Welcome
Updates/Journal
How to Help
Guestbook
Photos
Media messages_new_123 (1K)
Donations
Links

Contact us
jbrauns
@gocougs.wsu.edu

Brandon's Goal

If you have a minute, please sign my Guestbook!

Dear Jeff,

I met Kris in Oak Harbor when she and a companion needed some gasoline and my husband, Jim, was able to help them.

Since then, we have had to face many challenges, so when I tell you that I hear and respect your request for positive energy and prayers, you know it is the truth.

I was very close to my son, Michael. He was a Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter pilot. In his subsequent job with AIR EVAC LIFETEAM search and rescue was not really part of the job, but if needed, he would fly such missions. After finding a lost hunter last 30DEC, Mike and two others lost their own lives when the helicopter malfunctioned and crashed. It happened in Alabama. We had a memorial service for him in Lehi, UT last 22MAR.

For whatever it's worth, I truly believe that Mike is still "here"...somewhere. Little things happen which I interpret to be his only way of communicating with me. It has nothing to do with religion, but since Mike's death, I do pray.

Tonight, I will tell him about Brandon and send a prayer to wherever prayers go that his pain and especially that his fear will be diminished. No matter what happens, he knows how you and Kris love him. Maybe that will give him the strength he needs right now. Having raised five children I know how we feel when our child hurts in any way. Helpless. Perhaps angry. Losing Mike is supposed to make me stronger, I'm told. How? I'm bewildered that a young man who was legendary for his kindness, thoughtfulness and generosity is gone and some drunken hunter from Alabama lives on, never having acknowledged in any way his gratitude. Each time I talk to Mike, I pray for strength, grace and peace.

Brandon has no idea who G'ma Molly is, but I know who he is and so will Mike.

Sincerely,

Molly Baker

I am praying that everything goes well.
Amanda Bludworth Formaggio

Jeff, Thanks for the update! Know that Matt and I are always thinking of Brandon. I think we are even planning on seeing him Thursday. Take care. Much Love. ~ Kellee

Jeff and Brandon,
Thanks for the update. We will be thinking of you all tomorrow and hoping for the best possible result on the MRI.
Katie

Hi Brandon and Family,
I just wanted to let you know that I have been thinking about and praying for you everyday. Brandon you are such an adorable,courageous,person and such an inspiration for so many.
Stay strong, and please know that I am thinking about you.

Love,Lori Bare

Brandon and Family,

I am sorry to hear that your tumor came back. My family will keep you in our prayers.

Shannon and Kylee
(st. jude friends)

www.caringbridge.org/visit/kyleeh

I hope everything is well....I think of you and Brandon often.

Hugs,
Lucia (ependyparents)

No words can say how I felt reading your latest updates. I'm glad that Brandon handled the gamma knife well and is recovering. Please know that you're in our thoughts.

Mary Hoyt
(Derek's mom)

Hi Brandon it's Ty. How are you doing? I hope good. What did you get for X.mas? I got a drumset and Surper Mario Galexy for the Wii. Here is my mom's E.mail address kandicebradley@hotmail.com.


HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

206-919-6399


Stopping by to send love and with you a happy and healthy 2008. Brandon - you are just an awesome and super brave boy!

Love,
Michelle
Alec's mom from PBT

God bless you Brandon....you are a brave and courageous young man. Brady

Hey Brandon...I know your friend Ty's mom Kandice. She told me about you and I just want you to know how proud I am of you and what a brave young man you are!

I know all your doctors are gonna give you the best care and
help you get better,

Stay strong bud..you are awesome!

Melody Piper and family

Hi Brandon

This is Ty's mom!!! I wanted to say hello and late Merry Christmas!!! We are thinking of you!!! Keep your spirits up sweet boy and when you are feeling up for it maybe we can have a sleepover at our house for you and Ty!Sound good?!?!!!!

~Love~
Kandice

Hi Brandon! I just want to let you know how honored I am to be getting to know you. You are a very fun and funny young man and a joy to be around. Seen you soon, Christine

Hi Brandon. It was my pleasure to meet you at Thanksgiving. You seem like a very smart and happy young man. I will be thinking of you and wishing for you that all your dreams come true. Miriam Emry

It's so great to check in and know that Brandon is doing well. I can't believe how much he has grown!!!!!

Best wishes for a peaceful and hopeful holiday season.
Jen Whitmer and Jacob Bollinger (friends from St. Jude)

I am so glad to hear Brandon's scan was stable. I have been checking your site a lot to see how he was doing. I am glad he is doing well. Kylee goes in October for her 2 year post-rad visit. I am a little nervous.

Well, we will continue to pray for Brandon and clean scans.

Take care,
Shannon and Kylee

Yeah!! Great news on the scan. Enjoy the rest of your summer.

Travis, Melanie, Khloie and Clara Kate Farran

Brandon,

We met you a year and a half ago when my daughter,Kylee, was finishing up her radiation. You and Kylee have the same kind of tumors. I was just wondering when you were going back for another visit. I thought you should have gone already. Kylee goes back July 9th and she is still cancer free. We hope all is well with you and your family. We will continue to pray for you health.

God Bless,
Shannon and Kylee

www.caringbridge.org/visit/kyleeh

Hi Brandon and Family
My name is Jenna and I came across Brandon's site. He is an amazing boy and such an inspiration. Brandon is in my thoughts and prayers.

Dear Brandon and family ~ You are a true inspiration to us. We are thankful that you continue to progress and are doing well. May you all have a blessed holiday season.
Love,
Travis, Melanie and Khloie Farran

Hi Jeff, Kris and Brandon-
Just checking back with your web page to see how Brandon is doing. You guys must be very relieved with the latest test results. Great news! Hope Brandon is enjoying his school year. Thinking of you-

Amy Brandt

Hi Jeff, Kris and Brandon-
Just checking back with your web page to see how Brandon is doing. You guys must be very relieved with the latest test results. Great news! Hope Brandon is enjoying his school year. Thinking of you-

Amy Brandt

Dear Brandon...We are praising GOD for the miracle he has preformed in your life. The news from the scan is such a HUGE relief.
Take Care and God Bless!
Travis, Melanie and Khloie Farran

That's the best news I heard in a long time!!! I'm SO happy and relieved for you - I know how you must have been feeling these past weeks. Congratulations on the great check-up. We'll continue to wish Brandon our best and keep him in our thoughts.

Mary Hoyt

Hi Brandon, Just thinking about you!!! Thought I would tell you how much I miss you big guy ! We loved seeing you on the Island and hope we can plan some play dates! Take care and big hugs! Tiffany, Aaron, Ashley and Chelsey xo

My eleven year old son, Skyler, was diagnosed with an ependymoma on July 10, 2006 and had a resection on the 14th. Most of the tumor was removed. He had to have a permanent shunt placed on the 20th due the damage the tumor had caused and hydrocephalus. He is right in the middle of seven weeks of radiation at the moment and went off to his first day of sixth grade today. I came across your story and it is inspirational to me!!! D. McDonald (spokane, wa.)

Hello - just stopped by to check on Brandon. It sounds like he's enjoying the summer and I'm glad to hear that his MRI was stable.

I'll keep you all in my thoughts.

Mary Hoyt

Hi Brandon. We just wanted to know we have been thinking about you. We hope you are enjoying your summer. Ian sure is!! Maybe we'll get to see you soon!

Kristi and Ian Dolman
caringbridge.org/visit/iandolman

Kris...have been thinking about you and Brandon and saw your post on PBT. Just wanted to stop in and say "hi". Hope you are hanging in...Aimee

Dear Brandon,
You know I love you. Come and visit again soon. We miss your smiling face at The Learning Garden.
Love,
Teacher Terri

Dear Brandon,
You know I love you. Come and visit again soon. We miss your smiling face at The Learning Garden.
Love,
Teacher Terri

Dear Brandon and Family, This is my first visit to your website. Our daughter, Jill, is also a St. Jude patient in D Clinic. We lived at the Target House from Jan. to Sept. 2004. We return to St. Judes next month for Jill's quarterly check up with Dr. Spunt.

Your family will remain in my prayers.

Joyce Zulovich
Columbia, Missouri

thinking of you all..
much love,
mary alice dorschel

Thinking of you and waiting to hear good news. I hope everything went well and that you have a safe trip home.
Best Wishes,
Mary Hoyt

I am thinking of you all and keeping you in my prayers. This is such a time of anxiety as Brandon goes through scans and you wait for results. I hope and pray that you will have fun together as much as possible while at St. Jude and that all the results will be okay.

With love and prayers,
Jen and Jacob
www.caringbridge.com/va/jacob_bollinger

Jeff, Kris and Brandon,
As always my thoughts, prayers and the biggest hugs ever are sent your way. You have all endured so much. You are so strong! I love you Brandon!!! We are always here for you.
Tiffany, Aaron, Ashley and Chelsey xo

Hello Jeff, Kris and Brandon-

Thank you for your message on Kyle's website. It is always nice to know that people still want to check on us and see how we are doing.

We will pray for Brandon and both of you during the next few weeks as you await the next MRI. I remember those agoninzing days of waiting and uncertainty. You are right to let Brandon enjoy his last few weeks of school and look forward to camp. There is nothing more important than their need to feel "normal" and to activities to look forward to.

My heart aches for your uncertainty right now, but I will just keep you in my prayers each day. THere is a special angel named Kyle who will be looking out for your Brandon and sending strength and courage his way.

Fondly,

Julie O'Connell

We're thinking of you. I know the next 8 weeks will be long ones for you. Stay positive. We'll be waiting for good news and wishing the best for Brandon.

Mary Hoyt
tarby@comcast.net

Hello Brauns Family,
We are so happy to hear that Brandon had a good MRI! We will be back there next week for Ian's next MRI. Too bad we keep missing you! Hope everything else is going well at home. We are planning on visiting friends in Seattle sometime in August. Hopefully, we will get a chance to see you. Ian is looking forward to seeing Brandon again.
Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers,'
Kristi and Ian Dolman
caringbridge.org/visit/iandolman

Hello to all of you...we are so thankful for the good report. Must have been a quick trip because we didn't even see you guys and we are at St. Judes doing radiaiton. We will continue to pray for Brandon.
Take Care!
Travis, Melanie and Khloie Farran

Hello - Kris - sorry we didn't get to meet up with you last week in Memphis. It occurred to me (after I called you) that maybe you weren't staying at the Grizzlies house and had other arrangements.

Derek had a good check up - 3 years post treatment now. I hope Brandon's went well also.

Best Wishes,
Mary Hoyt
Newfields, NH
tarby@comcast.net

Dear Jeff, Kris and Brandon,

My name is Kary Hulsebus and I know Brandon's uncle Kevin through our work. Kevin briefly shared a little about Brandon with me and gave me the link to his site.

How special this is to see. I know how much you love your son and I know how all you want in this world is to make Brandon well. I know because I recently lost my little girl, Anna Grace, due to a heart attack related to an unknown genetic disorder. I read about the NG tubes, Mic-Key feeding tube and of course the G-Tube. Anna had all of these as well.

I sincerely feel for you all, especially Brandon. I know what God has in store for your beautiful child must be great. I will pray with everything I have in me that he is completely healed. I know it can happen and I know that prayer is the best way to get there. He will forever be in my thoughts and included in the prayer chain at our church.

Please know that anytime you need anything, I am close enough to help in any way. I know you don't know me at all but I know Kevin and I know he loves Brandon with his whole heart and soul.

Brandon - my prayer for you is that you maintain the incredible strength you've shown thus far and that sometime, if not now, you understand how many lives you've changed for the better. You are truly a miracle.

Hi Brandon!
It's your favorite Aunt Jen just writing to say I miss you a LOT and I love you! I will be praying for good reports from St. Jude's next week!!
Love, Jen, Justin, Kaitlyn, Scooter, and Daisy!