Spirited Woman Blogger Team

Guest Blogger - Budge Brown - Takes Action to Fight Breast Cancer

This is Budge's third post in a 3-part series.

After Arlene’s death, I knew that I had to channel my energy into something positive that could fight breast cancer. I was looking for another label for our wines (Arlene and I had founded Tulip Hill Winery, which we turned over to our youngest daughter Kristi when Arlene got too sick) and Kristi told me about a wine label that was for sale that might be of interest. She told me it was called Cleavage Creek. I thought it over, waiting a few months before I contacted the seller. I bought the label in 2006, and the first thing I changed was the focus of the label from the original racy type of marketing to something more tasteful.

The original label was contributing 10% of profits to breast cancer research. I wanted to do more. I got the idea to have an actual breast cancer survivor on the label. I decided to give 10% of the gross to breast cancer research and support. I wanted to inspire and honor breast cancer survivors.

I have spent a lot of time being angry because my wife died. I was angry because during  the five years between her first and second diagnosis, we were not advised to monitor her condition with other tests besides the mammogram. I was angry because we spent time with doctors who didn’t seem to care, and who didn’t know about protocols at other major cancer centers.

I knew if I didn’t do something positive, my anger would eat me alive. So I turned to my passion for growing grapes and making wine. Anger morphed into determination … Determination to see that other women could have a better experience during the treatment of their disease , so that they could be better informed, so that they could take charge of their treatment, and so that they could have a better outcome.

Guest Blogger - Budge Brown - Reveals the Heartbreak of Arlene's Cancer Treatments

In Post 1, Budge writes about his love for wife Audrey and their family. This is Part 2 in a series of 3 posts.

Soon after the diagnose of the small tumor, Arlene had a lumpectomy, followed by radiation treatments. She began to take Tamoxifen. Arlene was pronounced cancer free after the radiation. She had annual mammograms, all of which were clear. In 2003, we were celebrating five years of being cancer free with a trip to Mexico. While having a massage, her rib broke. We went home  immediately and sought medical attention. Tests revealed 9 brain tumors, liver lesions and cancer in her bones. The next two years were a series of doctor appointments and phone calls to experts.

We had an appointment with an oncologist at UCSF. We drove there, spent the night to be on time for an early morning appointment, waited all day and the doctor didn’t ever show up. We rescheduled and at the next appointment waited six hours to see the doctor. We met for about half an hour and then consulted with another doctor. This doctor discussed a new treatment but could give us no assurances that it would work. Arlene decided not to participate in that untried treatment. 

We tried to see doctors at UC Davis but couldn’t get an appointment, despite help from those connected with the medical center. In the mean time, we were keeping track of her disease with MRI’s and blood tests. Results were discouraging.

Arlene sought care from a man who had an herbal program. She was faithful about taking the herbal medicines routinely. After about eight months on this regime it became apparent that the person treating Arlene did not have her best interest at heart. She decided to quit his recommendations.

We found a doctor in Reno who had a way of administering chemotherapy at about half the normal dosage, but Arlene decided to get more information before making a decision to undergo his treatment.

By now, our options were dwindling and we were anxious to find treatments that could offer positive results. Next, we consulted with a personal friend – a radiologist who suggested a healing center he knew of in Brazil. We traveled there and participated in the center that is run by John of God. Arlene had some success there in that two of the brain tumors were healed. We returned home and through radiation, the other brain tumors were killed as well.

Guest Blogger - Budge Brown Writes About His Precious Arlene & Family Life

I was born and raised in Stockton, CA. When I was 4 years old, my family moved to a walnut ranch in the country. When I was about 22 years old, my future wife Arlene’s parents bought some land nearby and we were neighbors. Through farming, I became good friends with Arlene’s father and mother. I learned a lot about farming from her father. At age 23 I enrolled at UC Davis and farmed and went to college. After two and a half years I earned a degree in agriculture. Meanwhile, Arlene went off to college in San Jose. On a business trip there, I asked her out and then I asked her out again the following summer. By that February we were dating regularly and on June 14, 1957 Arlene and I were married.

I farmed and worked for PG&E at night. Arlene also worked until our children came along. We raised five children, two girls and three boys, in Manteca, CA. In 1969, I started Brown Sand Company, a business that excavates sand for commercial use. Using my imagination and a bit of business adventure, I invented the first tubular recreational water slide. In 1974, I opened Oakwood Lake, a waterslide park and campground. Oakwood Lake closed 31 seasons later and at that time the park had 22 water rides, a 2,500 square foot pool, 400 campsites and a 6,000 seat amphitheater. All the while I was still farming.

Over the years, Arlene and I along with our children, enjoyed camping, sailing, spending time with each others' families as well as working together. After our children left home, we traveled all over the world. I am immensely proud that all of the children have become successful in their own right.

Life was good and the family was growing. Nine grand children came along. In 1990 we found a little ranch in northern Nevada and moved there. We worked together for four years remodeling the old original home and growing alfalfa on the land. In 1998 as the result of a routine mammogram, a small tumor was discovered. Arlene’s grandmother and mother both had breast cancer, so there was a strong history of the disease in her family. We expected to beat this and continue with our lives.

Stay tuned for Monday's post on Arlene's daunting medical treatment.

- Budge Brown, Spirited Man, Guest Blogger www.cleavagecreek.com
Click here for more of Budge's posts

Budge Brown, successful self-made businessman and farmer, enjoyed 48 years of marriage with his wife Arlene. She lost her battle with breast cancer in 2005. Budge Brown is mad at breast cancer, and he’s determined to help find a cure. He's using his Cleavage Creek wines to wage his attack and raise awareness. 10% of gross sales is donated to breast cancer research. Over $37,000 has been donated to breast cancer research. Go Budge.