Just one week before her wedding Laura Crandall Brown was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. So rare, that there are fewer than 200 documented cases in the United States. The median age range of individuals with this cancer is 24. Brown is 25.

In November 2008, Brown was having stomach problems and decided to see a doctor. They discovered a cyst on her ovaries and she immediately underwent surgery that necessitated the removal of one ovary. Three weeks later she was told she had a rare, but extremely aggressive, form of ovarian cancer.

She began chemotherapy right away and lost all of her hair quickly due to the treatments. Despite quick treatments, in February 2009 she and her husband Walter learned the cancer had spread to her lungs and formed a floating lump in her abdomen.

At this time, Brown had surpassed any treatment she could receive at East Alabama Medical Center by oncologist Dr. Graves. This is when Brown began traveling to Houston, Texas, for clinical trial treatments. The doctor they affectionately refer to as “Dr. K” told Brown her cancer was now stage four.

The expense of traveling added with the doctor bills, medications and necessary care for Brown has mounted, and she and her husband are covered in debt.

Penn Shelton, Terri Lynn Beasley and Kristen Raiford are fellow Auburn University alums and friends of Brown. They are doing what they can to help out. The women decided to hold a pancake breakfast fundraiser and bake sale at Niffer’s on Opelika Road. The breakfast and sale will take place on Nov. 21 from 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Tickets are $10 at the door.

“It’s important that people know Laura is an Auburn 2006 graduate and an Auburn resident,” said Shelton. “Her job at the conference center has her reaching out to the community and university constantly.”

The $10 ticket will include pancakes, bacon, juice and coffee. Bake sale items can also be purchased for $5 to $10. Shelton requests payments be made by cash or check, but credit cards will also be accepted.

Friends of Brown will be serving, cooking and busing tables. Several Niffer’s employees are donating their time that Saturday to help the cause.

“Anybody who wants to help will be there,” Shelton said.

While Brown was in Houston, family members rotated being at her side.

“Her friends weren’t able to help her out in Houston, but now she’s back in Auburn, and this is something we can do to show her our support,” says Shelton.

Those not able to attend the event can make charitable donations to Auburn Bank for the Laura Brown Fund. Teal Livestrong bracelets representing ovarian cancer research will also be for sale for $5. The bracelets are inscribed with “Laura Brown Psalm 73:23-26.”

Shelton asked people to spread awareness of the event by joining the Facebook group “Pancake Breakfast Supporting Laura Crandall Brown.”

Brown plans on attending the breakfast if her health allows.

“The more people we can get out there to show Laura she is not alone in this fight, the better,” expressed Shelton.

For more information, contact Penn Shelton at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

“Laura will be fighting for a while,” Shelton said. “We have got to help out.”


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