1st Day of School  / Laura Times (Brandon's Mom )
Dear Brandon,

Today was the first day of school.  All I could think about was you.  You would be in the 3rd grade now.  I wonder how tall you would be, who would be your best friend, what backpack would you have picked this year....  I found the pictures of you and your brother Justin we took back in March 2003 when we visited the clinic.  You had been on chemo. for two months.  You were doing so well and looked great.  How hopeful we all were.  It was two days before your 6th b-day and you had the classroom bear for the weekend.  We kept a journal for class.  I sent nurse Becky a copy of those pictures of you with her.  I miss you so much.  How I wish you were here with me and your family.  Another milestone and you aren't here to celebrate it with us.  Time seems to move slowly since you've gone.  Oh, Brandon, I wanted so much more for you.  I wanted to see you grow up to be a handsome man.  Now, I will have to wait until I see you heaven.  Sending you all of my love.....Mom Close

Missing You  / Laura Times (Brandon's Mom )
Dear Brandon,

My heart is so heavy from our loss of you.  I know that you have gone on to a better place than this place (earth) that we are stuck on.  In honor and memory of you, a group of our family and friends raised over $2,700 for the American Cancer Society.  Your Dad walked the survivor's lap and held the tourch for the memorial walk.  The Boyd's family made us shirts with the picture we took of you at Santa Cruz.  Your brother's and friends raised about $300 at the Relay for Life field by selling dolphin necklaces, keychains, and lollipops.  Many people recognized our family because of you.  Alot of people thought Devin was you. Everyone always mistaked you and your brothers for triplets. You have done so much in such a little time.  I always thought you would be here telling your story of how you beat cancer.  Now, your story is being told through me.  I am keeping your memory alive and fighting for a cure for childhood blood cancers.  I know that you feel how sad I am, but pleaes don't worry about me.  You were so trapped here on earth, I want you to be free.  I will never be the same until I am with you again.  We all miss you and love you very much.

Mom Close

What Cancer Cannot Do  / Karen Pac (Someone who cares )
Cancer is so limited...
It cannot cripple Love
It cannot shatter Hope
It cannot corrode Faith
It cannot destroy Peace
It cannot kill Friendship
It cannot suppress Memories
It cannot silence Courage
It cannot invade the Soul
It cannot steal eternal Life
It cannot conquer the Spirit.. Close

Missing You  / Laura Times (Mom)
Dear Brandon,  so much has happened in such a small amount of time.  I find myself just wanting to hold your hand or kiss your cheek.  You would be of your family.  We are working hard to keep your legacy alive within everyone's hearts and to make everyone we contact aware of childhood cancer.  I made it into the Certificed Medical Asst. program.  All this I owe to you.  You allowed me to love and care for you and now I am going to use what you taught me to help others.  I thank you for that with all my heart.  Your little brother is very sick right now.  Please look over him.  I worry so about your brothers.  I know that you are ok.  You are in heaven with God.  There couldn't be a safer place for you.  I can't wait until we are reunited.  I pray that you will come to me in a dream and tell me your ok.  Know that your are still touching many people in many places.  I love you....Mom Close

Wish I had known him  / Jose Ramos (None)
I never met Brandon, but having met his parents, I can only imagine what an extraordinary young man he was. I am grateful to have learned something about him through this wonderful website, and hope that all that visit here will be inspired to honor Brandon's life by getting involved in some way to fight that which took him from his friends and loved ones. His legacy will be an enduring one. Close

A visitor from heaven  / Carol Cox (Passerby)
 For Brandon's mama....



A visitor from heaven
If only for awhile
A gift of love to be returned
We think of you and smile

A visitor from heaven
Accompanied by grace
Reminding of a better love
And of a better place

With aching hearts and empty arms
We send you with a name
It hurts so much to let you go
But we're so glad you came
We're so glad you came

A visitor from heaven
If only for a day
We thank Him for the time He gave
And now it's time to say
We trust you to the Father's love
And to His tender care
Held in the everlasting arms
And we're so glad you're there
We're so glad you're there

With breaking hearts and open hands
We send you with a name
It hurts so much to let you go
But we're so glad you came
We're so glad you came

by:

Twila Paris

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I Love You  / Laura Times (Mom)
Dear Brandon,

I am overwhelmed by our loss.  Although I know you are always with me in spirit, I long to hold you in my arms. When I pull up to our house, I always look up to your bedroom window to see if a see a glimpse of you.  I know you are in the warm bright summer sun and the gentle breeze that blows the leaves in fall.  You are in everything I see, feel, and smell.  But yet I still long to have you hear with me.  I miss you so.  I know you are in heaven awaiting my arrival.  I am trying to be patient.  I must stay here to help your dad raise your brothers.  Your brothers love you and miss you alot.  We speak of you everyday.  Please come to me in a dream and let me know you are ok.  Please send me a sign.  I love you baby.  I will be with you soon.

Love,

Mom Close

Brandon, / Jennifer Smith (Friend)
Thinking of you lots right now.  Wish you could have been here for Fourth of July.  Though I know you were looking down on my pool! : )  Your tree is getting so big, you must be showering it with your love when it rains. 

Send your momma some strength if you can, baby.  I can't imagine how much she misses your sweet face.  I love you. Close

Missing You  / Laura (Brandon's Mom )
dear brandon,  words cannot explain how much i miss you.  i want to reach out and hold your soft little hand, kiss your sweet smiling face.  i miss your humor and the closeness we shared.  i'm sorry you became so sick.  i wanted so much for you in this life.  i tried so hard to save you, but god had other plans for you.  please send me a sign and let me know that you are ok.  i would love for you to come to me in a dream.  i think of you always.  your brothers and i miss you so much.  i am not scared of leaving this earth because i know what awaits me.  i love you brandon and i will be reunited with you again.

love, mom Close

My Angel In Heaven / Laura (Brandon's Mom)
My Angel in Heaven,
You left my arms and went home to heaven only a short 14 months ago.  How I miss you so.  I think of you day and night.  I see your beauty in everything I touch, see, and smell.  Your family and friends miss you dearly.  We all keep you close to our hearts.  I look forward to the day when I can be with you again.  I love you Brandon with all of my heart.  May you be able to do everything in heaven that you hearts desires.  Your disease inprisoned your body, but never your spirit and soul.  Please watch over your family.  Loving you always, Mom. Close

To my cousin Brandon, / Hope Sampson (cousin)

Help your family to know-
that although in a different place,
your eyes rest upon each face;
that peace and glory are all you see
while you wait for those to be,
joining you when they hear the call,
when God grants the peace you see
to us all.

Impart to them that you know you are missed
but life is for the living, not to just exist,
but to spread the word of the Father you are blessed
to stand beside and be at rest.
To spread the joy that you know firsthand
That God holds us all in the palm of his hand.
That your joy-filled spirit wants them to live,
a life that speaks of the joy you were able to give. Close

"Brandon" / Marva Ann Sampson (aunt)
All the time gifts are given,
perhaps only loaned, to us.
The effect and value of the gift
only seeps into our consciousness
   as time passes.
Everywhere he went, he became a part
of that place and those people.

Love and laughter infected all their lives,
he became a part of the experiences
that were available to him.
Maybe a smile, maybe a hair
fell from his head, maybe a tear,
maybe a word, maybe a handprint,
a song, a game, wind off his face,
breath from his body;

Whatever, whereever, however, whenever,
he became a lasting, for all time,
part of our lives and God's magnificent creation.

Love, Aunt Ann Close

Thinking of You / Justin Times (Brother)
Dear Brandon,
  
     Brandon, I love you so very much. I wish you were here with us because we love you very very very very very very very much! I would like to light a candle for you down stairs but I can't because it's to late right now. If you were here with us you would have had a great time at Disneyland on Easter Break. Close

Dearest Brandon, / Jennifer Smith (Friend)

Thank you for allowing Jackson and I into your life.  I learned so much from you.  You will always have a special place in my heart.  You could make Jackson's face light up like no other.  I love you.

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My Promise / Edward Times (Father)

My Sweet Son,
Brandon I cry because I can never go back to any day and show the love I have for you....But I promise you that I won't let a day go by without letting your brothers and sisters know I love them and I'm proud of them, as I am of you.   I remember you, and I think of you always.

I love you ...
Dad

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You would be so Proud / Lisa Moland (Friend)
Dear Brandon,

You are a star that shines so bright and will always remain in so many hearts.  You would be so proud of your Mom, she is strong in every way.  She holds her head up high and prays that God will continue to give her the strength each and every day.  You would be so proud, that your mom carries you in her heart and shares all the happy memories with everyone she comes in contact. You would be so proud that your mom is a phenomenol woman in every way. Close

I am Home / Veronica Partridge (friend)
"Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there, I do not sleep.  I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glint on snow.  I am the sunlight on ripened grain, I am the gentle autumn's rain.  When you awaken in the mornings hush, I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight.  I am the soft star that shines at night.  Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there, I did not die."
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You'll Always Be.... / Veronica Partridge (friend)

you'll always be that secret tear drop on my face you'll always be that cool breeze i feel upon my face you'll always be in my broken heart you'll always be never ever far from my thoughts you'll always be that smile when i reflect you'll always be that ladder as i step as time passes ever so slowly till that magic moment arrives when i meet you face to face only to see that unique twinkle in your eyes God giveth and he taketh at his will not ours and i'll always be so fortunate to have been part of your earthly life so fly my angel to the deepest depths of God's heaven for one day we'll meet again for that is the Lord's covenant till then i'll find comfort in the memories time can't erase  since you made your way into His heaven a most beautiful place.

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Please Understand / Veronica Partridge (friend)

Don't whisper behind us when we enter a room.
We are in pain, but not deaf.
Don't stop calling us after the initial loss.
Our grief does not stop there and we need to know others are thinking of us.
Don't be offended when we don't return calls right away.
We take each moment as it comes and some are worse than others.
Don't tell us to get on with our lives.
We each grieve differently and in our own time frame.
Grief can not be governed by any clock or calendar.
Do say you are sorry, We're sorry, too, and you saying that you are sorry is far better than saying any of those tired cliches you don't really mean anyway. Just say you're sorry.
Do put your arms around us and hold us. We need your strength to get us through each day. Do say you remember our child, if you do. Memories are all we have left and we cherish them.
Do let us talk about our child. Our child lived and still lives on in our hearts, forever.
Do mention our child's name. It will not make us sad or hurt our feelings.
Do let us cry. Crying is an important part of the grief process. Cry with us if you want to. Do remember us on special dates.
Don't ask us if we are over it yet. We'll never be over it. A part of us died with our child.
Don't tell us they are in a better place. They are not here with us where they belong.
Don't say at least they are not suffering. We haven't come to terms with why they suffered at all. Don't tell us at least we have other children. Which of your children would you have sacrificed?
Don't ask us if we feel better. Bereavement isn't a condition that clears us.
Don't force your beliefs on us. Not all of us have the same faith.
Don't tell us at least we had our child for so many years. What year would you choose for your child to die?
Don't tell us God never gives us more than we can bear. Right now we don't feel we can handle anything else.
Don't avoid us. We don't have a contagious disease, just unbearable pain.
Don't tell us you know how we feel, unless you have lost a child. No other loss can compare to losing a child. It's not the natural order of things.
Don't take our anger personally. We don't know who we are angry at or why and lash out at those closest to us.
Our child's birth date, death date and holidays are a very lonely and difficult time for us. Do send us cards on those dates saying you remember our child. We do.
Do show our family that you care. Sometimes we forget to do that in our own pain.
Do be thankful for children. Nothing hurts us worse than seeing other people in pain.

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