“Take me,” Kari remembers praying. “I’ve lived. Let my daughter get married. Let my daughter have children. Put her cancer in me.”
Doctors diagnosed Brianne with triple-positive breast cancer, a different form of cancer than Kari’s. Medical professionals knew of it because, hyper-vigilant, Brianne performed self-exams.
“She’s way too young to have mammograms. If she hadn’t felt that lump, this story would probably go in a different direction,” Kari said.
Brianne’s treatment? A mastectomy in January 2023. Followed with 13 weeks of chemotherapy. Kari attended every appointment.
A mastectomy is a surgical procedure to remove one or both breasts. Surgeons perform this to treat breast cancer, and for reasons like benign breast conditions or reconstructive purposes.
“I watched my mom beat it,” Brianne said. “I knew I had a fight.”
Seven months later, Brianne and Kari smiled together, posing for bridal photos. Brianne married Jacob Sammataro on Sept. 15, 2023.
Despite her condition and surgery, Jacob’s commitment to Brianne never faltered.
“When Brianne was diagnosed, everything changed, we had just recently got engaged, we were planning a wedding and it should have been the happiest time of our lives. However we were facing the unimaginable as a young couple. All of it was very tough on her, but it brought us closer. We hadn’t said our vows yet, but I was in it ‘through sickness and in health.’ I feel that we made it through one of the worst things ever and we came out kicking cancer’s butt. This year, we celebrated our one-year wedding anniversary.”
Kari and Brianne's journey is a testament to the importance of early detection. They share their stories with others, emphasizing the importance of preventive care screenings. They encourage women to schedule regular care so they can be vigilant about their health too.
