Dr. Karen Leigh Bryant: devoted single mother, daughter, sister, woman of faith, educator, veteran, community advocate and friend:   received her diagnosis in February ( Stage 4 Lung cancer) ; transitioned on April 30th, 2022,) 53-years-old, single parent who pursued her dreams , raised four beautiful , smart and talented children and used her gift of service to give back to the community.

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My beautiful sister, Karen was born in Chattanooga, TN, on August 4, 1968. She began her formal education in Chattanooga at Valley View Elementary School, where her mother was a teacher. She accepted Christ as her savior (Union Grove Baptist Church, Chattanooga, Tennessee) at a young age. She sang in the school choir there and continued to excel in her other classes. She graduated from Valley View in 1979. After her graduation, she entered Boyd Buchannan, a private school, for two years. Later, she spent her Junior High Years at Dalewood Middle School, where she was a cheerleader. Her senior years were spent at Brainerd High School, where she was a member of the band. After graduating from Brainerd, she attended Memphis State for a year. Then she entered the United States Air Force serving in Germany and Italy. She completed her college education while still in the Air Force, got married, and began to raise a family. After resettling in Nashville, TN, she earned a B.S in Education and a Master’s Degree in Education at Tennessee State University and Doctoral Degree in Education at Trevecca Nazarene University.

 

2011, Teacher of the Year for Ross Elementary School.

Karen served the community with a kind heart. She faithfully supported my Heart Collage and American Heart Assocation Heart Association Heart Walk Campaigns.

 

She went home to be with the Lord on April 30, 2022.

 

It was easy for Karen to talk with anyone about anything. She always loved to talk with her family and friends and help them with any problems that they were experiencing. Karen also liked to watch various English drama series and even got hooked on playing Animal Crossings on the Nintendo Switch her children bought her for her birthday. Karen was a strong, intelligent, caring person and was always willing to help anyone. She raised four children who have now turned into amazing grown adults. She was a terrific example of living and trusting in God, reminding her family of the importance of teamwork, and rolling with the punches in life gave way to creating strong, independent, and resilient children. She was a Superwoman with a capital S. Although she is with the Almighty God right now, she will always live on in our hearts, minds, and spirits.

 

 

 

Lung Cancer Among People Who Never Smoked

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention…….

“Lung cancer can be caused by many risk factors other than smoking cigarettes, pipes, or cigars. These risk factors include exposure to other people’s smoke (called secondhand smoke), radon, air pollution, a family history of lung cancer, and asbestos.

In the United States, about 10% to 20% of lung cancers, or 20,000 to 40,000 lung cancers each year, happen in people who never smoked or smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime. Researchers estimate that secondhand smoke contributes to about 7,300 and radon to about 2,900 of these lung cancers”

For additional information including……

What Are the Symptoms of Lung Cancer Among People Who Never Smoked?

How Can I Help Lower My Risk of Getting Lung Cancer ?

Is Lung Cancer Screening Recommended for People Who Never Smoked?

What Types of Lung Cancer Are Diagnosed in People Who Never Smoked?

Please click the link below………

https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/lung/nonsmokers/index.htm

 

 

Re: Honoring the Life and Legacy of my beautiful sister, Dr. Karen Leigh Bryant

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The Dr. Karen Leigh Bryant Scholarship Endowment was established in memory of my sister, Dr. Karen Leigh Bryant, She was known for being hard working, ambitious, person of faith, compassionate, loving and kind. The purpose of the endowment is to provide financial assistance to student in the field of education who reflects similar characteristics to Dr. Bryant and is a single parent.

Please visit the following website..... www.trevecca.edu/GIVE

Click on Give Now

Fill in the amount and if it's recurring

Click on Designation. On the down arrow find Scholarships

Then click on Scholarships

Then fill out the information and at the bottom, fill in "In Honor of"

Fill in "Dr. Karen Leigh Bryant" and use your name and address as the contact person.

Click on the payment section and click on "Go to Checkout"

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  Thanks for honoring my beautiful sister and supporting the fight against lung cancer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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"From My Heart "

 

Five things I wish I knew before my sister transitioned on  April 30th, 2022

More about lung cancer, prevention/screening, signs, symptoms etc: Knowledge is Power,

Complete out line of my sister’s treatment plan,

Re: Cancer Advocacy Group ( Nashville Tn). Where to connect in person

If any resources including self-care were available to support newly diagnosed cancer patients and their families

If my sister was initially affected by the medication she received in February , when she received her diagnosis : Stage 4 lung cancer.

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Five things I know now, after my sister transitioned on April 30th, 2022

Re: Grieving Process ( so overwhelming) there is no timeframe; trust God through the process,

Stay connected with my family, friends, neighbor’s, medical team, church community; American Heart Association, Diamond in the Rough, and Radical Love Family: all are apart of the healing, process

Keep the lines of communication open with my new networking community.

More research and funds are needed to support the fight against lung cancer

Strive every day to push through the low moments of the grieving process & raise lung cancer awareness, support single parent/ cancer patients and their families, promote heart/stroke awareness and honor the life and legacy of my beautiful sister, Dr. Karen Leigh Bryant

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