Update on Brandon

[pomtzu]

I thought of Brandon from time to time, and wondered how he was doing, and to read this, is really heartbreaking. He certainly has traveled a very difficult road in his short life. May his passing be peaceful, and may his family find comfort in knowing that he will struggle no more.

[Grace]

I'm so very sorry to hear this, Laura. Prayers for a peaceful passing - prayers for all of you

[Laura's Babies]

Sis called me after I posted this yesterday and this is the story...

That morning his Mom went in to see him and get him situated for the day.... he was awake, alert and himself. She left the room for a few minutes and when she came back he was non responsive, not moving, just laying.... They did not know if he had a stroke or went into a coma or what, so a ambulance was called to get him to the ER.. They were keeping him in the ER until they could get a room for him and that took some time.. While we were talking Brandon's Dad came told her they were moving him to a room and he was becoming more alert and aware of things.. Wanted to know WHY he was in the hospital and how he got there. They seem to think he had a siezure, not a stroke. Soon as hospice is set up, the hospital will let him go home.

His body, over the last year has started breaking down or shutting down. He is just about completely deaf (due to the tumors), his face is partially paralized, he has lost most of the use of his legs and arms and his speech is very slurred. He has a tube in him and that is how he is fed, he is hooked up to it overnight to get his nourishment and he has had this for awhile now.

I have to tell you this story, it is such a heartwarming story of how some people choose to react to him on a outting one day.. While in Oregon, visiting with his Grandma & Grandpa, they took him to a lighthouse. He had been there before but it was closed the day he went and he always wanted to go back and go in the lighthouse. So, they took him to the lighthouse. They had to park uphill and take him down in his wheelchair and his Grandpa asked the lighthouse keeper if they could take Brandon inside. The man said they were shorthanded and couldn't let anyone inside that day so they took Brandon and was walking around showing him the view when that man caught his Grandpa's attention and motioned for him to come over to him. When he got there, the man asked what was wrong with that boy and Grandpa told him he had brain cancer. The keeper told him that after he told them "no" he got to thinking about the condition the boy was in and he and his wife discussed it and agreed they should let him in and told Grandpa to go get his grandson and bring him in.. Once inside, (LOL!) Brandon asked if he could go upstairs and see out from the top of the lighthouse. They took him out of the wheelchair and sat him on the bottom step and he took himself up, one step at a time on his butt...all the way to the top! The keeper and Grandpa, followed him up and once at the top, they picked up up and held him in a standing postion so he could see what he had wanted to see for so long. Once done, they sat him on the top step and back down he went, one step at a time on his butt!

The story does not end there.. Pushing him back uphill to the car in that wheel chair was way to much for his Grandpa.. Sis said you wouldn't believe how many people came and offered to help get him back up the hill.. Rather than stare or shun the weird looking guy in the wheelchair, they offered to help do what needed to be done! Sis said that whole experience was something she will never forget..... the kindness people showed him was amazing.

[Karen]

People are much kinder than media reports would lead anyone to believe, so glad he scooted himself to the top that day!
Our prayers are with all of you, I promise.

[robinh]

So sorry to hear that Brandon is failing but what a wonderful story. It will always be a story to tell and smile about later. Gives you hope that there are still people out there who care.

Prayers to you and your family at this time.

[phesina]

What a wonderful story! Thank you, Laura, and thank you, Brandon and everyone who made that happen.

Dear Brandon, may your passing be easy, and may we all meet you at the Rainbow Bridge, One Fine Day.

God bless, and love,

Pat (and cats)

[Medusa]

I love this story, Laura. Brandon is made of some pretty strong and wonderful stuff and the people who helped him are just as wonderful. Bless them all and our prayers are still continuing for Brandon's passing to be peaceful and easy.

[caseysmom]

So sorry Laura, I am so glad he got to the top of the lighthouse it must have meant so much to him.