Boy loses battle with brain cancer
BOTHELL, Wash. -- Brandon Brauns never let his illness get in the way of his generous heart.
Struggling with tumors in his head that were growing faster than doctors could treat them, Brandon still usually had a smile on his face and was always looking for ways to help others.
On Saturday morning, Brandon died at home with his family by his side. He was 11 years old.
"I am so very sad Brandon is no longer with us, but I am grateful that he is no longer suffering," his father, Jeff, wrote on their Web site. "He still gave it all he had up to the end."
We first met Brandon and his mom Kris last year when vandals smashed their front window. And KOMO viewers didn't hesitate to help.
A local company replaced the damage windows, viewers donated to help with the family's mounting medical bills and to Brandon's foundation, and Disney sent the family on a cruise.
Brandon knew his cancer wasn't getting any better, but he still spent time helping others.
Over the Christmas holiday, he led a caravan of classmates carrying toys to Children's Hospital.
Brandon's buddies collected toys, and dropped off some 400 of them at Children's and another 100 at the Ronald McDonald House.
"If I was in the hospital over Christmas again, I would want presents," Brandon said in a December interview. "So I thought I'd bring presents down to the kids."
A public "Celebration of Life" for Brandon will be held Saturday, March 27 at 11:00 AM at the Canyon Hills Community Church in Bothell.
His family has asked those attending to wear blue, which was Brandon's favorite color.
"Without question he has made me a better person," his dad wrote. "His life touched so many, and so many of you touched his life."
Struggling with tumors in his head that were growing faster than doctors could treat them, Brandon still usually had a smile on his face and was always looking for ways to help others.
On Saturday morning, Brandon died at home with his family by his side. He was 11 years old.
"I am so very sad Brandon is no longer with us, but I am grateful that he is no longer suffering," his father, Jeff, wrote on their Web site. "He still gave it all he had up to the end."
We first met Brandon and his mom Kris last year when vandals smashed their front window. And KOMO viewers didn't hesitate to help.
A local company replaced the damage windows, viewers donated to help with the family's mounting medical bills and to Brandon's foundation, and Disney sent the family on a cruise.
Brandon knew his cancer wasn't getting any better, but he still spent time helping others.
Over the Christmas holiday, he led a caravan of classmates carrying toys to Children's Hospital.
Brandon's buddies collected toys, and dropped off some 400 of them at Children's and another 100 at the Ronald McDonald House.
"If I was in the hospital over Christmas again, I would want presents," Brandon said in a December interview. "So I thought I'd bring presents down to the kids."
A public "Celebration of Life" for Brandon will be held Saturday, March 27 at 11:00 AM at the Canyon Hills Community Church in Bothell.
His family has asked those attending to wear blue, which was Brandon's favorite color.
"Without question he has made me a better person," his dad wrote. "His life touched so many, and so many of you touched his life."