Finding Resilience Through Rare Blood Disorders ft Brandi Lewis

About this episode

In this episode of Resiliency The Podcast , we welcome Brandi Lewis — blood disorder educator, TEDx speaker, writer, podcast host, and founder of a nonprofit supporting blood disorder patients facing financial hardship.

At just 19 years old, Brandi was diagnosed with aplastic anemia and PNH , rare blood disorders that changed the course of her life. What began as a devastating diagnosis became a calling. Brandi turned her pain into purpose by helping register hundreds of potential bone marrow donors and supporting patients navigating similar journeys.

Brandi shares what it meant to pause her college dreams, face uncertainty, learn “the art of rest,” and discover that resilience is not something we do alone. Her story is a moving reminder that community, advocacy, patience, and storytelling can become life-saving forces.

About the guest

Brandi Lewis is a blood disorder educator, TEDx speaker, writer, nonprofit founder, and host of The Life We’re Given . After being diagnosed with rare blood disorders at 19, Brandi became a passionate advocate for patients, donor registration, and the power of community-centered resilience.

Chapters

1. 00:00
   Welcome to Resiliency The Podcast
2. 01:27
   Meet Brandi Lewis
3. 02:00
   What resilience means to Brandi
4. 03:09
   Life before diagnosis and asking “Why me?”
5. 05:33
   What the pause taught her about rest and success
6. 07:00
   Creating a nonprofit while still sick
7. 08:48
   How donor registration efforts helped save lives
8. 10:09
   Addressing the bone marrow registry gap for African-American patients
9. 13:32
   Overcoming financial and community-building barriers
10. 17:25
    How Brandi balanced rest, advocacy, and action
11. 20:14
    Facing relapse and choosing to fight again
12. 24:06
    Why resilience can look like crying on the couch
13. 25:56
    Navigating frustration, inequity, and self-advocacy
14. 29:05
    Brandi’s podcast, The Life We’re Given
15. 33:14
    Why sacred conversations matter more than numbers
16. 37:25
    Brandi’s question for a future guest
17. 38:22
    When resilience becomes a group effort
18. 39:42
    Where to find Brandi

Mentioned in this episode

• brandilewis.com
• linkedin.com/in/brandi-lewis
• brandilewis.com/podcast

Transcript

A full transcript of this episode is available.

Read the transcript