Today’s Jay Fund Hero – Chase Cameron Brauda
“Any child who battles cancer is a hero. To have one’s childhood taken by chemotherapy, spinal taps, bone marrow aspirations, transfusions, mucositis, nausea, infections, bipap masks, aching bones, peeling skin, allergic reactions and to be able to maintain a humble heart makes Chase Cameron Brauda one of these heroes. A child who wants to pray for the little baby in the room next door because he hears his cries exemplifies empathy. A child who wants to buy his nurse’s son Pokemon cards because she mentioned he liked them shows generosity. A child who wanted his mom to buy his favorite night nurse the energy drinks she liked as a gift shows gratitude. And when faced with relapse only a few months after his bone marrow transplant, this child quipped that I would have to film his sequel to burning his mask. Faced with his own mortality, this child, Chase Cameron Brauda, thanked his doctor and his sweet nurse, and told them that he loved them. He asked his pastor to thank everyone who had been praying for him. And one by one, he told each person in his family how much he loved them. And in spite of his failing health, he held off death and waited on his child life specialist to get home from her honeymoon so he could tell her bye. Parents generally are the ones who teach their children life lessons, thus becoming their children’s heroes. For me, my heroic role model came from my son, Chase, who brings Abraham Lincoln’s quote to fruition: And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”
No one could possibly have said it any better than Chase’s mother, Susan Brauda. Chase Brauda remains a hero and his spirit lives on in all of the many lives he touched. Thank you for nominating today’s Jay Fund Hero, Susan and thanks to Chase for living a huge life, touching countless people, in his short lifetime and beyond.
Donate to the Jay Fund in honor of Chase or in honor of your hero! Every dollar makes a difference, when you have a child with cancer.