Brindley has suffered from Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) for years. Her condition began at the age of 10 as recurrent boil-like abscesses and she wasn’t diagnosed until 16. She didn’t share her condition with anyone for fear of being seen as “gross” and unclean, which continued into adulthood. It wasn’t until her wide excision surgery four years ago that she told people about her HS.
She met Denise in an HS support group, and as a result, HS Connect (hsconnect.org) was born. Their patient-led non-profit organization focuses on eradicating misconceptions and stigmas, spreading factual and accurate information, and providing resources for everyone who suffers, including the medical community.
Brindley has two daughters with HS: a biological daughter, age 15, Stage 2, and a stepdaughter, age 19, Stage 1. Brindley hopes to help eliminate the shame that HS patients face and move HS in the right direction as a patient, parent, and advocate.
