Local author chose to survive in memoir ‘Girl, Uncoded’

By Kendra Simpson

At 17, Brandi Dredge did not consider herself a victim. Today, she’s grateful for those who fought for her regardless.

“The wrestling with my identity was huge in that I’m a wife, but the law is saying I’m a victim,” Dredge said. “I’m a mother, but my child’s DNA is evidence of the crimes. So in a sense, he’s illegal.”

In her memoir, “Girl, Uncoded,” which comes out Oct. 22, Dredge relived her traumatic past in the eye’s of her character, Caroline.

“Girl, Uncoded” tells the story of a young woman who finds herself pregnant and married to an older man. Through passion, betrayal and eventual blessings, Dredge found peace and understanding beyond the trauma.

“I had a choice,” she said. “I could either suffocate under the dreams of the life I didn’t get, or I could survive in the one I did. Because you have to be able to, first of all, realize the circumstances that you’re in to then be able to survive in the truth of what your life is, and it may not look like that life that you dreamed of or that you thought you’d have, but it doesn’t mean that it’s a bad life.”

What started as a practiced healing through journaling, Dredge discovered her memoir could not only mend her own pain, but possibly help other survivors.

“We can share our stories with those that are around us, because you never know who might need to hear your story so that it gives them hope,” she said. “It might even be just hope to get through that day and you know that’s a pretty good thing because God uses us to touch the world.”

Dredge was recently nominated for the Women of Excellence Award for her volunteer work through the Junior League of St. Joseph. Dredge’s time with the Junior League began after she felt God had sent her several signs showing her the path. After having a few interactions with the group’s president, Tona Williams, Dredge was interested but not sure. It wasn’t until a random encounter that she was convinced.

“I had went to Hazel’s Downtown with my daughter and we were actually going to have coffee at one of the other coffee shops and (my daughter) said, ‘No, let’s go to Hazel’s,’” Dredge said. “When we went in there, the Junior League was in there having a meeting, so I was like, ‘Well, that’s a sign.’”

After working with the Junior League for awhile, Dredge became the assistant director for one of the group’s initiatives, Cinderella’s Closet. She explained the joy of volunteering is rooted in not only helping others, but giving back to the community that’s given her so much.

“It’s really just about giving back more to the community than I take from it,” Dredge said. “We all take things in certain ways and throughout the years I’ve taken things and so if I can give back in some way, I believe that’s also part of what we’re here to do is to use our time, talents, money, whatever that looks like in a way that can help another.”

Dredge will have a ‘Launch and Learn’ for her memoir at the Story Collective on Oct. 22. She and two other local women will discuss themes of the book, empowering survivors through storytelling and service. Attendees will also receive a signed copy of the book.

“It should be a good time,” she said. “Even though I know it’s hard topics and they’re heavy topics, but it will be filled with laughter and smiles and fun because, you know, life is good and we’re going to enjoy it.”