Brandi Benson
Brandi Benson is an American war veteran, motivational speaker, author, and entrepreneur.[1][2] She is best known for writing the book “The Enemy Inside Me”, which recounts her experience of battling and surviving Ewing Sarcoma.[1][3] She is also the founder and CEO of Resume-Advantage, an employment service company. [2][3] Brandi earned a B.A. in Mass Communications and Journalism from Ashford University and an M.F.A. in Writing from the Savannah College of Art and Design. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Education at Concordia University.
Early Life
Benson grew up in Novato, Northern California and Kailua, Hawaii. [2] She played basketball and soccer in the Olympic Development Program and the American Athletic Union.[1][2] In 2008, Benson joined the U.S. Army and was deployed to Iraq after her basic training.[2][4]
Cancer Diagnosis
In early 2009, Benson was diagnosed with stage 1B Ewing sarcoma, an aggressive soft-tissue cancer.[2] [4]She was first flown to a hospital in Germany and then to Walter Reed National Military Center in Maryland, Washington D.C. [2][4] Between February and November 2009, she underwent 17 cycles of chemotherapy, several surgeries, and physical therapy.[1][2]
Life After Cancer
After recovering from her cancer treatment, Benson was stationed first at Fort Meade in Maryland and then at Fort Stewart in Georgia.[4] She was medically discharged in 2013.[4] Thereafter, she completed her master’s degree in writing from Savannah College of Art and Design in 2015. [3][4]
In 2018, Benson published her book “The Enemy Inside Me”. [3][4] She has also founded Resume-Advantage, a resume development company. [1][2] Moreover, Benson volunteers with organizations such as The Livestrong Foundation, The Future Minds Literacy Program, The Ella Foundation and Make-A-Wish Foundation. [1][2]
Benson was selected for her national advocacy work as an honorary award recipient at the Sarcoma Foundation of America’s 18th Annual Fundraiser, held in October 2020.[5] Brandi has been recognized for writing several magazine blogs, and is a national spokesperson for an American pharmaceutical company. Benson was also signed as a print and spokes model for HOP Models & Talent Agency, and has made guest appearances on several notable podcasts.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "562 || Brandi Benson: "I Thought My Life Was Over"" (in en-US). 2019-04-24. https://shatteredmagazine.net/562-brandi-benson-i-thought-my-life-was-over/.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 Foundation, Livestrong (2019-05-07). "I Am a Fighter and a Winner Who Never Gives Up on Herself" (in en). https://blog.livestrong.org/i-am-a-fighter-and-a-winner-who-never-gives-up-on-herself-70da7c351f26.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Becoming the Miracle" (in en-US). 2020-07-10. https://cancerwellness.com/essays/brandi-benson-ewing-sarcoma/.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 "Army Veteran Healthy After Ewing Sarcoma" (in en). https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/army-veteran-healthy-after-ewing-sarcoma.html.
- ↑ "Sarcoma Foundation of America's Stand Up to Sarcoma Event" (in en-US). https://www.curesarcoma.org/nyccelebration/.
