Defining Support, The Cancer Mom Series: Kellie
Defining Support, The Cancer Warrior Mom Series is a collection of thoughts from many incredible Cancer Moms and how they define support.
By Kellie Andrew
Kellie is Mom to Brinn, who was diagnosed with stage 3 high risk neuroblastoma in December 2018. Brinn is currently 2 years old and in treatment at Levine Children’s Hospital.

There’s a lot going on in our family. Happy and sad. Hard and then even harder. Our heads are just above water most days. But we are finding a way to be okay. I recently said that we live just one day at a time. But that’s not true. It’s really one moment at a time. Sometimes the days are just too long and hard to think about.
The word ‘support’ for me personally is very broad. It means a card, a comment on social media, sharing a story online, a text, or phone call. Support means a meal, a gas card, a basket of items on my front porch, the offer to mow the yard or clean my home. It means a coffee mug, a soft blanket, an eye mask, and a new nail polish. It means a self-help book, being added to a prayer list, or coming to visit and just listen. Support means offering to watch the kids so we can go have dinner and have a moment to ourselves.
I also feel extremely supported through the hospital and clinic. I feel heard and respected as her mother at all times. I feel that my thoughts are valued, which encourages me to be a part of each step in her treatment.
Support means just knowing that someone else is thinking of us and making a point to let us know.
I can only speak from my experience but without the things I mentioned
Donate in honor of these incredible women, your donation to the Isabella Santos Foundation helps fund research so desperately needed for rare pediatric cancer patients.
MAY CANCER MOM SERIES:
- Once a Cancer Mom, Always a Cancer Mom
- Defining Support, The Cancer Mom Series: Marianna
- Defining Support, The Cancer Mom Series: Christie
- Defining Support, The Cancer Mom Series: Nicole
- Defining Support, The Cancer Mom Series: Dianna
- Defining Support, The Cancer Mom Series: Eileen
- True Definition of a Mother, The Cancer Mom Series
- Defining Support, The Cancer Mom Series: Melissa
- Defining Support, The Cancer Mom Series: Brandi
- Defining Support, The Cancer Mom Series: Melanie
- Defining Support, The Cancer Mom Series: Rae