Braeden's Journey: Striking Out Cancer

05/27/2026

Today marks 3 years since I’ve heard your voice or saw your goofy smile. It still does not seem real. You should be here talking about all the things you want to do this summer. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of you. I hate this life without you in it. I love you kid!

05/24/2026

Last weekend I attended Runway to Hope’s Spring Soirée in remembrance of you. If you know me, I do not like the spotlight or attention. How I ended up with a child who loved the spotlight and attention and was a people person I do not know. LOL. But I went again this year and stood on stage for you. To help people remember you and to help them understand what they are donating towards and what the cause of truly for. It is always an honor to go stand for you! You loved walking the runway and making people laugh. Here’s to you kid! Thank you again Lee Kranek for going with me.

05/02/2026

Since 2017, I have come to have 2 months out of the year. I know it is wrong to hate something but I really do. I have September and I hate May. September is because that is when you were diagnosed and outlived changed forever and May is because that is when the Lord took you home. Ironically, in true Braeden style, you were diagnosed in September, which is Childhood Cancer Awareness month and gained your wings in May, which is Brain Tumor Awareness month. You always did have to do things your own way so I guess it was fitting. Yesterday started the one of the months that I hate. Yesterday started Brain Cancer Awareness month. It also marks the upcoming anniversary of you going home to drive the Lord crazy, along with all our of friends and family that is up there with you. Pray I make it through this month. As a teacher it is already a hard month because it is close to the end of school and adding this stress on it makes it worse. I love you and miss you kid!

04/08/2026

Happy Heavenly Birthday Kid! Today you would have been 17. I know you would have turned into an awesome young man. Im sure with more attitude than I would be able to handle. lol. Im sure you would have celebrated doing something you loved or driven everyone crazy until you could. We celebrated you by taking a bunch of toys and stuff to the hospital and having ice cream for dinner (and dinner for the ones that actually eat dinner 😂). I can’t believe you would have been 17. Love you to the moon and back kid!

Thank you everyone who sent items to be donated to the hospital. They were very appreciative of it all!

04/02/2026

ETA: I have added more items. I tried to make sure that the items would be here by Tuesday at the latest. I will be at the hospital Wednesday morning so I would say the cut off for delivery time needs to be about 7 am. Or I can always put it aside for next year. Thanks again everyone!

Hey everyone! In honor of Braeden’s birthday coming up, I’m taking stuff to Nemours to donate to Child Life for the Hen/Onc and PICU floors. If you would like to contribute to the donations I am placing a link for a list on Amazon. Sorry it is late notice, I’ve been waiting to hear back from the ladies to see what things are needed. The items will be shipped to me. And I will take them on Wednesday to the hospital. Thank you for the donations! Do not feel as if you need to donate but any donations are appreciated! Hope everyone’s a Happy Easter!

03/17/2026

Anyone who knew Braeden knew he loved his nerf guns. Well I got them out today….. this is what I have found so far! There may be more hiding lol

02/15/2026

02/14/2026

Happy Valentine’s Day kid! Love you to the moon and back!

02/06/2026

The many feelings that a grieving mother goes through just about every day…

12/26/2025

Yesterday I spent the day remembering you and the way you loved Christmas. You loved giving presents to people. And, of course, receiving them. I think this year got to me the worst of all. It’s not fair. You should be here. I miss you so much!