Brandy Kelley was used to pushing through pain. She had epilepsy all her life, and the headaches that started in childhood became debilitating migraines that lasted for days. As an adult, there was a routine to it — MRIs every three years and neurologist appointments after each seizure.

When her MRI results became abnormal, her local care team suggested she travel two hours away to Barnes-Jewish Hospital for more specialized care to understand the cause.

“All the doctors were amazing,” Brandy says about the care team at Barnes-Jewish Hospital who guided her through a week of neurological testing.

It was an especially scary time, with visitors strictly limited during the COVID-19 pandemic. When Brandy was overrun with worry and wasn’t sure she had the strength to keep searching for answers, her team at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and her family at home carried her through — along with the promise of her first grandbaby.

“My daughter was pregnant with my granddaughter when all this happened,” Brandy says. “I didn’t think I was going to see her be born. It gave me strength and motivation.”

A Growing Team

While her care team was still working to identify the cause of her abnormal MRIs, Brandy was able to return home with new medication to treat her headaches. When she returned to Barnes-Jewish Hospital six weeks later, she received a diagnosis: neurosarcoidosis. The rare chronic inflammatory disease is characterized by abnormal cell clusters that affect the brain, spinal cord, and nerves — explaining her headaches and abnormal test results.

That same week, Brandy met with David Clifford, MD, a WashU Medicine neurologist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital who specializes in her disease.

“I felt better once I met him,” Brandy says. “When they told me the diagnosis, I felt like it was the end. It was very scary.”

Dr. Clifford’s calm demeanor put her at ease and helped her feel more confident as they created a new treatment regimen that included weekly medication and regular infusions.

For the first time in a long time, Brandy was feeling better. She soon asked Dr. Clifford to take over her epilepsy treatment, as well.

“I’ve never felt so much relief,” Brandy says. “I finally got someone to listen to me and to help, after going from doctor to doctor for so long. I really feel like I wouldn’t be here today if I hadn’t gone to Barnes-Jewish Hospital. I would recommend anybody to go to Barnes-Jewish, hands down.”

Getting Her Life Back

Today, the severe headaches that nearly defined her life have become a thing of the past. Thanks to the exceptional care she received at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Brandy has been able to see her family continue to grow as she welcomed a second grandchild. She can play with her grandchildren without having to hide pain. “I feel more relaxed than I have in years,” Brandy says. “I have my life back.”

With appreciation for the high-quality support her care team provides, she and her husband drive two hours to St. Louis every six months for checkups and routine tests. “Even if it was 12 hours away, we would make the drive,” she says. “I’m so blessed to have Barnes-Jewish Hospital in my life — I don’t want to look anywhere else.”