Brenden Foster: 'I could have done more'
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The local boy whose dying wish to feed the homeless inspired thousands across the world has taken a turn for the worse. Brenden Foster is growing weaker. His body is failing, his skin yellowing. His mother is trying to decide on the wording for his grave marker.
BOTHELL, Wash. -- The local boy whose dying wish to feed the homeless inspired thousands across the world has taken a turn for the worse.
Brenden Foster is growing weaker, but his message is growing stronger.
His body is failing, his skin yellowing. His mother is trying to decide on the wording for his grave marker.
"B-Man is his nickname, or Mr. B. But most people call him B-Man," said Wendy Foster.
The end is near, and Brenden has one question for God.
"Why at so young an age? I could have done more. But if it has to be now, it has to be now," he said.
It's easy to imagine all he could have accomplished after seeing what the 11 year old has achieved in his final days. Brenden's dying wish to help the homeless has touched hearts from Saudi Arabia to South Carolina. Many of them left voice messages for their new hero.
"We saw you on television and love you with all of our hearts and we're praying for you," said Gayle Cleveland.
"(I'm) 59 years old and it brings tears to my eyes every time I see him -- someone with that initiative that wants to help the homeless," said Danny Billingsly.
"We collected over 20,000 cans of food and donated it to a local food bank in your honor," said a woman named Nina.
A Vietnam vet from Kentucky who lost his leg in the war wants me to give Brenden his Purple Heart for bravery.
"This is for you, little angel," said Jim Jones. "A bunch of guardian angels here and a bunch of guardian angels are waiting for you in heaven."
Brenden's message inspired Daniel Chairez, a 12-year-old boy in California who is also battling leukemia.
"He really inspired me because he's not afraid. And he wants to help people and he's not selfish," he said.
How you can help
In Brenden's honor, KOMO News will be holding a food drive for Northwest Harvest and Food Lifeline. You can drop off food on Thursday, November 20th at Fred Meyer stores in Issaquah (6100 E Lake Sammamish Parkway SE), Federal Way (33702 21st Avenue SW) or Brenden's hometown of Bothell (21045 Bothell-Everett Hwy).
If you can't make it in person, you can donate online by going to the Problem Solvers donation page and select "Brenden Foster Food Drive" from the donation options list.
Donations to the family can be made to the "Brenden Foster Cancer Fund" at any Washington Mutual bank branch.
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Dear Brendan,
ReplyDeleteI will be riding in the AIDS/LifeCycle 8 next May 31st, 2009 to raise money to help people living with AIDS and to ride for a cure. Your name will be on my shirt so that on the 545 mile ride I will not be tempted to give up. You have inspired me and many others to make this world a safer place. You are my hero.
Janice
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Brenden has touched hearts from coast to coast. People like you are also touching hearts when you set aside your own life for the sake of others. I'm sure you could be doing so many other things than enduring the physically draining ride, but you're doing it because someone is in need. Bless you for making a difference. Brenden is teaching us that even a child's voice can change the world. All we have to do is open our eyes to see and our hearts to feel.
ReplyDelete