Brandon Brauns is a 10-year-old suffering from cancer, but he’s always thinking about others.
According to his mom, Kris, and grandmother, Dianne Forth, the fifth-grade Bothell boy had giving on his mind this holiday season and organized a toy drive with his Shelton View Elementary classmates.
“It’s given him something to look forward to, because his days aren’t always filled with a lot of activities,” Kris said.
Last Wednesday at about 11:30 a.m., Brandon and his family arrived at the school for a visit and to see the bounty of toys neatly arranged in the Learning Center to be given to Children’s Hospital patients Monday in Seattle.
“He will be thrilled that we have done this. It looks like Santa and his helpers have been up there for a month,” said Shelton View Principal Bob Jones. “Even in this economic time, the outpouring from people has really been amazing.”
Added Pattie Burnell, a Learning Center instructor: “The kids come in here and see this and they say, ‘Oh, this is so exciting.'”
Brandon drove his scooter through the campus to the Learning Center to see how his idea came to fruition with a handful of students welcoming him and showing off the toys.
Forth said that scooter has become crucial to Brandon’s life as he battles cancer. He drives it to school around the corner from home with someone following to make sure he’s safe.
“It’s given him freedom and independence,” Forth said as she watched one student place a white teddy bear on Brandon’s lap and another youngster fill his scooter basket with a doll. Other gifts collected included Fuzzy Posters, a Monopoly game, Power Rangers action figures, books and much, much more.
“Brandon has been in the hospital many times, not over Christmas, but on his birthday and other special occasions. And when they came in with gifts for him, he was just so thrilled,” Forth said. “So, I know the kids down at Children’s that are going to be the recipients of this are going to be equally thrilled and feel very grateful that somebody else was thinking about them.”
Burnell said watching the students connect with the 1 1/2-week toy drive and with Brandon is a heartwarming experience.
“We forget about the family and what’s really important, especially during the holidays. And we look at someone like Brandon, it really brings us back,” she said.
In a quick interview before heading off to lunch last Wednesday, Brandon halted his scooter and noted that it was “pretty neat” that all the kids donated toys and he was happy to see his Learning Center friends and instructors.
One friend, Gage Thompson, sat amongst the toys during Brandon’s visit and was proud of his classmates’ effort this holiday season.
“We’re doing this because of Brandon and for the kids that are stuck in the hospital for Christmas,” he said. “All of us are feeling really bad for them that they have to sit in there when they’re sick.”
“One parent told me that when they went shopping,” Burnell said, “It was teaching their child it wasn’t about them — but about others.”
More information about Brandon is posted here
