Alaskan Bush People took viewers into the interesting and very private lives of Ami and Billy Brown and captivated many for the seven years it was on the air. Although a lot of key parts of their lives were shown on screen, including multiple tragic events, there is still a lot that most people don’t know about the family.
Here are 10 things that you didn’t know about Ami Brown.
1. She Got Married At The Age Of 15
Ami Brown was just 15 years old when she got married to Billy Brown, who was 26 at the time. The difference in ages may come with more than a bit of suspicion but you need to remember we are talking about a group of people who generally are removed from the norms and culture of the United States. Ami wasn’t Billy’s first wife however, he had been married and divorced prior to beginning a relationship with Ami.
2. She Thought Her Cancer Was Arthritis
A lack of knowledge can be very dangerous to your health, as Ami would learn. Having felt some pain in her back, she simply thought it was due to overexertion. Then the shortness of breath followed.
Connecting the two brought her to the conclusion that it was the result of the cold, getting older, and things generally breaking down. There were days she was completely bedridden but there was no reason to go to the doctor to have things checked out.
3. It Was Her Dentist That Discovered Her Cancer
In the fall of 2016, Ami paid a visit to the dentist, who then informed her that a capsule was discovered during a routine scan of her teeth. She had gone in to get new teeth, and the impression procedure revealed the problem. The dentist’s concerns finally led her to go to the hospital to get an official diagnosis.
4. Ami Brown Is A Fighter
The cancer had been originally diagnosed by the dentist, but the exact size of the problem couldn’t be immediately determined. Further tests revealed it was Stage 4 lung cancer, a condition that was both advanced and had the potential to spread to any part of her body. Most of the prognoses were very negative, but Ami Brown was determined to fight on regardless of any potential outcome.
5. She Is A Person Of Faith
Ami was quoted during her ordeal with cancer as saying, “There is hope and that hope is having faith in God. You can’t give up.” While it is true that many people turn to God in times of great emotional distress, Ami has consistently believed that through the other ordeals such as the family splintering over the last few years, things would work out. Thus far, her faith has been justified.
6. She Promotes Cancer Treatments That Saved Her Life
Ami had become severely ill during the radiation treatments, at one point having been told there was less than a three percent of survival. It was decided that Ami’s episodes about battling cancer would become part of the show, and the series continued. She hopes it would help other people who are enduring the treatments not to be fearful.
7. Ami Brown’s Net Worth
If you are wondering how Ami could afford the treatments, the answer is the family as a whole has an estimated net worth of about $60 million. Ami’s portion is estimated to be $12 million, though that number could be higher. For the record, Alaskan Bush People are not known to have any type of dependable health coverage.
8. She Has An International Following
Alaskan Bush People are very private people, so it is incredibly strange that a member of the community would be an international star. Due to Ami’s personality and charm, she has gained a fanbase across the world as many people were invested and curious about her rather odd and unconventional life.
9. Billy Brown Passed Away In 2021
Sadly, Billy Brown would pass away in February 2021 from a seizure. Ami’s husband and patriarch of the Brown family suffered from heart problems for many years and would spend a lot of time in hospital dealing with these issues. It was decided that the Alaskan Bush People TV show would end shortly after his death.
10. Ami’s Mom Continues To Attempt To Reconnect With Her
Ami’s mother, 83-year-old Earlene “Memaw” Branson, actually traveled to Alaska to try and see her daughter, especially since finding out about her cancer diagnosis. Separated for more than 36 years, Earlene claims she has a single wish before she dies and that is to reconnect with Ami. The details of the separation are not clear, but we can only hope that her mom’s wish comes true.
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