A breast cancer diagnosis at the age of 42, followed by surgery and months of recovery, the Rushworth woman was at one of the lowest points in her life.
And then she won tickets to the U2 Joshua Tree concert in Melbourne.
“It was like a dream come true,” she said.
She entered the competition, run by the Riverine Herald and Edge FM, at the last moment — thinking she had no chance of actually winning it.
The prize includes two tickets to the concert next Friday, November 15, and a night at the five-star Royce Hotel.
‘‘I’m going to take my sister (Jodie Ryan Roberts),’’ Brydie said.
‘‘She couldn’t believe when I told her.
‘‘We’re trying to get an extra ticket for our niece (Mikaela Pyke) to come along. She is a young mother of four who runs a caravan park in Tongala and has supported me through my breast cancer diagnosis and surgery.
‘‘I thought it could be a good girls night out for all of us.’’
The 43-year-old was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive tumour in August last year after noticing a lump in her breast.
‘‘It threw me for six. I thought I was too young,’’ she said.
‘‘I had a lumpectomy in October last year where they removed the pectoral muscle and lymph nodes.’’
Six weeks later, doctors gave her the good news.
‘‘They had removed it all so I didn’t need radiation or chemo,’’ she said.
‘‘Initially they thought I would need radiation so that was wonderful news.
‘‘I can’t get reconstructive surgery until I get the all-clear after two years though.’’
Brydie said the past 14 months had been a hard road, but she was thankful for all the support she had received from family, friends, Breast Cancer Network and The Gift in Kyabram.
‘‘It took me a while to recover from the surgery and everything I had gone through,’’ she said.
‘‘But I feel very blessed to have so much support.’’
This is the first time Brydie will see U2 live after missing out on its last Australian tour.
‘‘I grew up listening to U2 and used to pinch my brother’s U2 cassettes and CDs,’’ she said.
‘‘I bought tickets last time they came to Australia but something came up and I couldn’t go so I had to sell them.
‘‘I’m really looking forward to seeing them play. It will be awesome.
‘‘I just want to thank the Riverine Herald and Edge FM for giving me this opportunity. I’m so stoked.’’