# @americanredcross on Instagram - **Type:** Image - **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/C0msyMXsYIX - **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/72591421-americanredcross-instagram - **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/719861f93c.jpg - **Posted:** 2023-12-08T20:00:28.000+00:00 - **Account Owner:** American Red Cross (@americanredcross) β€” https://gondola.cc/americanredcross ## Caption Empath. Advocate. Innovator. Ally. This is how anyone who has met Brianna Kee would describe her as. This dynamic Red Crosser does not let any one thing define her. πŸ™ŒπŸ½ Nearing three years into her Red Cross journey, Brianna is changing lives. As RedCrossCT's Service to the Armed Forces and International Services Program Specialist, she supports veterans, military members and their families by providing resources, leading workshops and organizing events. Although a natural giver, Brianna found herself needing her own support after an unexpected diagnosis. In October 2021, she was diagnosed with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES). β€œIt is a scary situation to be in β€” when your body has little to no control over what it is doing,” Brianna said. β€œIt is like being trapped with no way out.” Brianna found an outlet of acceptance within the Red Cross Ability Network Resource Group, a safe space where people with disabilities and allies within the organization come together. At first, she struggled with identifying her condition as a disability, not wanting a diagnosis to define her. But today, she is on the group's steering committee and breaking that stigma. βœŠπŸ½πŸ’’ "The Ability Network is a place where I can not only be my authentic self, but also be an ally," Brianna said. She is also a Red Cross trained swim instructor and coach for kids with various abilities and has a partner on the autism spectrum. This makes her service to the Ability Network even more personal. "I try my best to lead with kindness and empathy. For me, that is the foundation of being an ally," Brianna said. "Even if you do not understand what someone is going through, I challenge you to push through that and just be kind." Brianna is stepping out of her comfort zone to share her experience. She said if it helps others like herself, it makes it all worth it. We are incredibly grateful for Brianna's bravery and the selfless work she puts forth every day as a dedicated humanitarian. ❀️ #SeizureAwareness #DisabilityEmpowerment #MilitarySupport #VeteranSupport #RedCross ## Stats - **Views:** 0 - **Likes:** 241 - **Shares:** 0 - **Comments:** 12 ## Credits No public credits are recorded here. This does not identify who made the post. ## Tags disabilityempowerment, veteransupport, seizureawareness, redcross, militarysupport --- Copyright (c) Gondola