Laura Bowden ~B.I.I. warrior

As I sit and try to find the perfect words to share my journey regarding breast implant illness, I can’t help but to feel overwhelmed with gratitude. 

📖MY story, is your story.

I was chosen to be a vessel 30 yrs ago. Humbled and honored beyond words. A vessel to share my truth with others. Little did I know that God was preparing me to continue this battle to spreading BII awareness  years later and try to end this travesty. To see that another generation does not suffer from such unimaginable pain.

“Silicone adjuvant breast disease”. That’s what it was called back then in the 90s. I had never heard those words before. Only 26 years old. I was taken to my knees only four months after getting my told-to-be “safe” silicone breast implants. 

Two years of searching as to what could possibly be causing my chronic fatigue, joint pain, headaches, uti’s, shortness of breath, dry eyes, muscle twitches, brain fog. 

The list goes on. 

I was only 26yrs old. Back then social media didn’t exist. The only thing that had changed in my life is that I got breast implants. 

I decided to go back to my plastic surgeon. He would definitely tell me the truth right? I will never forget. 

As the words calmly came out of my mouth “I am very sick. If it is my breast implants, please tell me”. 

He taps my on my knee, “Now, now. There is no scientific data to prove that’s why you are so sick but I will take them out under a local in my office if that makes you feel better”. My response? Take them out of me. ASAP. I knew, I was 2 weeks away from that man handing me a death sentence. 

He would have punctured my scar capsule, rupturing my implants, spewing silicone through my entire chest wall, leaving the scar capsules behind and send me on my way. 

It is only by the grace of God that I was spared. 🙏🏽

I was sitting watching Jenny Jones at my grandmas house. One week before. And there she was talking about her journey with breast implants. 7 sets. All my symptoms. Right there. A support group scrolled through the bottom of the screen. I frantically wrote the number down. 

It was at that time I was thrown a life line by an amazing Earth Angel named Vicki. She talked to me until 2:00am. Telling me in her opinion... I was incredibly sick from my breast implants and if I were to go back to that doctor he would kill me. I had received validation that It was not just in my head. Most importantly, I was NOT crazy.  Such powerful words. 

It was then that my journey to find a knowledgeable doctor began. I contacted Dr. Feng in Ohio. Yes, THE same Dr. Feng that has continued today saving women. She was two months out for surgery. That seemed like a lifetime. I found out about a doctor in Texas. A Neurologist named Dr. Patten doing a study proving “silicone adjuvant breast disease” is a real illness. 

We took $10,000 from our 401k. 

You see, Baylor University wouldn’t even let women through the door without paying something up front. Insurance companies weren’t covering this. It was a slippery slope. Nothing has changed!

I met three floors of sick women in that hospital. When I thought I was the only one. I started to pull us all together in rooms to talk. To tell our stories. Realizing very quickly that we were all a part of a club that we did not sign up for. These women were so very sick. Sick for years. With zero answers. 

Rupture after rupture. We developed bonds that no one could understand unless you have experienced this kind of pain. After two weeks of neurology testing it was my turn to be freed of these toxic bags that were slowly killing me. 

At that point there was thought that they were both ruptured. Scared. So very scared. Many of the women that I had met had a series of ruptures. An incredible Surgeon named Dr. Hamilton removed my breast implants. Properly with an enbloc. Now, thirty years ago that was almost unheard of, a five hour surgery. Far cry from in the office under a local. As quick as the next day, it was as if the cloud was lifted from my brain. 

All my symptoms? Gone. 

I asked Dr. Patten “how can that be?!! “You, are one of the lucky ones. You are young, healthy and they were not ruptured. It is like we took the logs off the fire and your immune system calmed down”. 

It was then time for me to leave these incredible women that may never have the chance to get better. 

I promised every single one of them that I would go home and be THEIR voice. To try everything in my power to stop this travesty. And so my journey began. 

Two years of screaming from the mountain tops. At anyone that would listen. We made change. Just not enough. Sadly, every fire we started, Dow Corning had the financial means to put out. We tried so hard. So very hard. 

I was part of Dr. Patten’s 2,000 patient study back then. Someone broke into his office and put duct tape and crutches on his desk. Destroying all his slides and documentation. 

Silencing him for speaking truth. Deplorable. Now I find myself back in the fight with an incredible ARMY of women. How are we still talking about this after all these years? Hurts my heart.💔

It's only because of meeting my dear friend, LaTasha at my Crossfit gym 2 years ago, that I realized NOTHING has changed. Same heartbreaking story! She was so very sick from her implants and didn't realize it. I could see it in her eyes. There are no coincidences.  💫

So now,  I find myself helping with a BII study 30 years later. Life has a funny way of coming full circle. I am beyond honored to be Advocating with an incredible physician, Dr. Landon Pryor, who believes us.  He believes in BII enough that we are working with three med students to get a paper published on BII.

I will continue this journey to stand with these brave women speaking our truth. Many who are MOVING MOUNTAINS from underground. Changing laws behind the scenes. To try and save the next generation. I can only hope that I can continue to throw that life line to others suffering from this illness. 

I am not going away! 💪🏼

To all the amazing women that have joined this fight with me… I am proud to call you my friends and stand with you to end this injustice. It truly is going to take an Army. It stops here. 

Thank you for letting me in your lives. 🙌🏼

Tara, I am beyond honored to be a part of your new journey. You will continue to save and touch so many lives. I love you with all my heart. You are my little but MIGHTY beautiful and brave friend...

~Laura Bowden