Scars are Beautiful

Iowa Statewide May 14th, 2022

Nationwide Collaboration September 2022

My name is Jess, and I am one of the brewers at Kinship Brewing Company in Waukee, Iowa. I moved to Iowa in October 2020 with my Fiancé from Temecula California. In March of 2021 I tested positive for the BRCA 2 genetic mutation. BRCA stands for the Breast Cancer gene. I had a 90% risk factor for Breast Cancer, I have an 84% risk for Ovarian Cancer and a 56% risk for Pancreatic Cancer. May 28th, I went in for my Double Mastectomy, straight to flat, as I couldn’t take that 90% risk. I continue to screen for my other high-risk cancers every 3 months. November 11th, I went in for my second breast surgery to clean up some areas that were flaring up. Scars are Beautiful is my story and probably many others, about how recovery and adjusting to your new body is hard. It’s traumatic and life changing but through it all, it can be beautiful. My scars tell a journey I’ve been on and continue to be on. It’s scary, it’s devastating but it saved my life. With your help, I know we can save other lives. I am so proud to say that I and Kinship host Iowa’s larges breast cancer 5k and I am proud to take this beer nationwide with you all.