Love Never Fails by Brandi Speirs

Joining us today for a powerful message is Brandi Speirs, a valued staff member at CC4C. Driven by over 15 years of personal advocacy for families of children with special needs and rare conditions—a journey profoundly shaped by her own daughter's experience—Brandi brings a unique depth of understanding. Coupled with her bachelor’s degree from The University of Texas at Austin and over 25 years of professional experience in the special needs education and performing arts communities, her dedication to supporting children and families is truly inspiring.

As a mother of a teen with a rare condition (PANS), I am intimately acquainted with the unique journey and the challenges this rare life can present. PANS is short for Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychological Syndrome, which in layman’s terms means an autoimmune condition that can be triggered by nearly anything that activates the immune and causes the body to attack the brain.  This impacts, not only motor skills, but the emotional and psychological systems, and more.   

Looking back over the last 13 years of our rare journey, I can clearly see that love has given me the strength to persevere in the face of unimaginable health, emotional, and financial battles.  Not only my love for my daughter and family, but my love and compassion for others walking the rare and undiagnosed journey.

1 Corinthians 13: 7-8 states that love “always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”   My daughter presented with initial symptoms of PANS at age 3. Each day, my love for my daughter and my husband propelled me forward to seek answers and healing.  You see, life with a rare condition not only impacts the child, but each family member and the dynamic within the family.  It was love that fueled me as I contacted doctor after doctor and specialist after specialist across the nation trying to find answers and guidance.   It was love that allowed me to persist through a difficult 5-year journey for diagnosis.

During the journey to diagnosis, I discovered a new world- a world of social media filled with other warrior moms like me who were also seeking answers.  It was in these online support groups where my love and compassion for other families like mine was cultivated. We shared our struggles and our tips and our tears and our triumphs.  A strong desire was born within me to help other families dealing with the challenges of undiagnosed and rare conditions.

Upon official diagnosis, I set my face like flint determined to find a path that would lead us to healing.  We have been on this journey for nearly a decade now with many ups and downs, progress and setbacks.  Love is the fire within me that fuels my determination and strength to stand steadfast in the face of it all. To stand for my daughter’s full healing.  To stand for my marriage and family.  To stand in the gap for other families who are living with rare and undiagnosed conditions.  I cling to Ephesians 6:13 “and after you have done everything, to stand.” 

I am blessed and deeply grateful that I was led to CC4C last year and that I was able to join the CC4C team as Development Coordinator to serve the rare and undiagnosed community.  I will continue to stand strong and immovable in the face of challenges no matter how great they may be. I will continue to shine my light of love as beacon for others in hopes that I can illuminate the path forward for other rare and undiagnosed families.  After all, as this journey has taught me, love never fails.

Let Brandi's message be a beacon of hope. Embrace the power of love. Support CC4C and help us ensure love never fails for every child. Donate or learn more at www.cc4c.org