Stories of Hope
BRANDON - Winning the Game of Life
On December 13, 2002, we first heard those awful words: Brandon has cancer. I can still hear the crackle of the white paper as Brandon sat up on the cold looking, blue, exam table. I can still see his sweet, innocent face when the nurse practitioner asked Brandon if he knew why he was there. I watched him close his eyes as he slowly lowered his head to his chest, so quietly, almost whispering, he said, "yes, they think I have cancer."
I can still feel the sting from biting the inside of my cheek, silently saying over and over in my mind, do not cry, do not cry, stay strong for Brandon. I can still feel the powerful, shameful way, my heart responded, wanting to run and escape. I can still remember the overwhelming defeat I felt of wondering how we were going to do this after seeing some of the sick, bald-headed, puffy face children as we walked past their rooms. Terrified, I saw our son in every face, fighting for life, without a guarantee that he was going to live.
Brandon taught us beautiful, life lessons through his difficult battle. The MACC Fund has taught us lessons about commitment, determination, and hope. They have always been in our corner, fighting through and for research. And, as if that isn't enough, the MACC Fund is an organization with the truest concern and compassion, kind-hearted and caring in every way, with a convincingly, powerful belief and passion that some day they will achieve 100% cure rates. With their gentle and tender hearts leading, for what appears effortless, the MACC Fund staff gives all cancer families their very, very special kind of love . . . a love that lifts through their Gift of Hope.
~Brandon's Mom
The words "sudden death" to a golfer mean something good. They mean a chance to win a championship, just like Mark Wilson did at the Honda Classic in 2007.
As a 12-year-old, hearing that I had cancer, the words "sudden death" could have meant something very different to me and my family. In 2008, I was just like a lot of high school students, waiting to graduate, ready to start something new. But in 2002, when I found out I had cancer, no one knew if my graduation day would ever come.
I was determined to make it happen, but I knew I couldn't do it alone. The MACC Fund stepped up and was there for me every step of the way. Without the MACC Fund, I would not have graduated and might not have even made it to high school. I know that for a fact.
The next time you have a bad round on the course, or a bad day at work or school, just be thankful you get to play and get to live.
There are a lot of kids with cancer out there that will never get to swing their clubs, will never play a round of golf, will never graduate. We need to change that. With your support to the MACC Fund, one day, every kid that has to hear the words, "you have cancer" won't have to worry about not graduating, not playing golf, or not surviving cancer.
Thank you for trying to make that happen and for being a part of the MACC Fund Team.
~Brandon
