Alaskan Bush People’s Billy Brown Opens Up About Ami’s Cancer

Alaskan Bush People fans have been praying for the Brown family as Ami battles lung cancer. For a few weeks after the terrifying diagnosis, viewers were left in the dark as the Browns came to grips with Ami’s health issues. Now, they are opening up.

In a recent interview with People, Billy was very candid about Ami’s cancer and it’s effect on their large family. He said that Ami rarely complains, so when she shows she’s in pain, they know it’s bad.

“She’s the strongest person I know, so if she’s saying it hurts, it really hurts. She tries to hide it from everybody but four or five times a day she bends over like a baby and cries,” he said, “She bends over and tears run down. She put out seven babies without a grunt. I’ve always had a lot of respect for Ami, but I’ve got a lot more now. She makes me feel like a wuss.”

When Ami got her diagnosis, the doctors told them the cancer was in both lungs but not in any other organs. “We know if it’s in the brain, it’s over. And if it’s in the stomach, that’s bad but this cancer can be right where it is and go anywhere. It can go to the brain. It hasn’t traveled to any other organs, but that’s what they’re saying is next. Any time we talk to anybody, it’s bad news,” Billy said.

When asked how hard it was to make the decision to leave Alaska, Billy stated that the kids are the ones who ultimately made that decision.

“We saw Ami slow down so fast. She started out 128 lbs. and she dropped to 89 really fast. Last winter was really hard on her. [Our son Bear] got really mad one day. I was pretty bad and mom was pretty bad and he started right then, “How long are we going to do this?” Once we knew what Ami had, Bear was adamant. We had talked about it before and when we sat down realized and made the decision, it wasn’t like it came out of nowhere,” Billy told People. “We’ve always told the kids they don’t have to follow our lives. We moved out there because we wanted to. They just came along and we have been so proud that they wanted to stay with us as long as they did out there but it was time. We had to make this move to do what’s best for Ami.”

Billy tries to stay within arm’s length of Ami as she battles for her life. “I just sit with her. We sit and talk and the guys, they try to not all come at once so it’s not overwhelming. But they come by. I’m never more than 10-feet away from her,” he said. “I don’t sleep. I don’t want to lose that time with her. I’ll stay up just watch her breathing while she sleeps. Eventually I’ll fall asleep watching her and then Bear will come in and sit with her until I’m up again.”

“Freedom Is Being with Your Family”

When asked about what it’s like living in a city after living remotely, Billy said being together is the most important thing right now.

“We talk a lot about wanting freedom in our lives. That’s why we moved out there. But the freedom is all right here [with Ami.] Freedom is having a family so strong and so with you that you can get through anything,” the Alaskan Bush People star said. “Freedom is being with your family. I can’t lose that. I can’t live without her. I can’t lose her. I just pray every day that we’ll get good news.”

The family is eyeing up beginning life anew in Colorado. In the video below, they discuss moving near where Billy and Ami fell in love with the forest. Ami said she doesn’t want to just have “gloom and doom.”

This family is going through some serious life changes. They have completely uprooted themselves to battle for Ami’s life. It appears they have some positive things to look forward to as they look towards reestablishing their lives in Colorado.

Ami also candidly discussed her fight against lung cancer. You can read about that by clicking here.

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Source: People