Obituary: Dunkle, Brandon L.

DUNKLE,
Brandon L.
(Age 15)

Born: September 27, 2000, Spokane WA
Died: March 1, 2016, Spokane WA

Brandon’s mother, Laura, always said that he was her “miracle child” from the start.

Time and again, doctors told her that he wouldn’t live, wouldn’t thrive; that his body would never allow him to have a “normal” life.

The possibility existed that he would never hear nor speak.

Yet each time, Brandon, against all odds, showed us all the miracle child that he was.

He grew into a strong-willed, funny, generous young man with a fierce passion for life and an unparalleled sense of adventure.
On February 23, Brandon was struck by a vehicle while crossing the street.

We waited for him to do what he did best; show us another miracle.

Sadly, his body had sustained too much injury for him to give us that gift once more.

On March 1, surrounded by his family and friends, and with the prayers of an entire community, we said goodbye and let Brandon go.
Brandon gave his love to those around him freely and with wild abandon.

He was always happy to see his family and friends, often greeting everyone with a warm hug.

On occasion he took food from his mother’s kitchen cabinets to give to those he felt needed it more.

He often gave away his toys - and even his sister’s as well - to kids that had less.

Most recently, Brandon came home one day without shoes on his feet.

When asked where they were, he simply replied, “A man with no shoes needed them, so I gave him mine.

You’ll need to buy me new ones.”

It is this love and generosity, coupled with his never-ending smile behind it, that we will miss the most.
With his generosity in mind, and the knowledge that one last gift of life is what he would have wanted, Brandon’s mother and sister, Felicia, made the decision to donate his organs to those in need.

Our miracle child gave others their very own miracles that night.

He will continue to touch so many more lives through these gifts, and will live on in memory and legacy.