By Karen Hall

Editor

Word of Brandon Bradley's diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia spread like wildfire around Lewisburg and Marshall County, and the outpouring of love and support from all sections of the community has been tremendous.

"Thank you is not enough," said Brandon's mother Shan Wells, who is County Mayor Joe Boyd Liggett's secretary. "We greatly appreciate everything people have done so far, and will do."

Brandon, nicknamed "BB," was diagnosed on Sunday, June 2, and has been at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt ever since.

He had a port put in right away, and has been getting chemotherapy twice a day since June 3. This first round of chemo ends today, and then Brandon will spend 20 days in the hospital, resting. After that, if his blood count is good enough, he may come home for a week, before returning to the hospital for another round of chemo. Later, he will get a bone marrow transplant.

"He has kept everyone uplifted," said Brandon's Youth Minister Penny Steely of First Baptist Church, who's known him since he joined the youth group.

"He's his normal self," she continued. Steely said Brandon gives his mother strength.

She reported Brandon said, "God doesn't give you anything you can't handle, and I can handle this. I've never lost a fight, and I'm not going to lose this one."

Before he became one of Marshall County's youngest and sickest cancer patients, Brandon was very active in the FBC youth group, liked hangin out with friends, and was planning to spend the summer working as a lifeguard at the Rec Center. He has a longtime girlfriend, Cortney, who has been by his side since this ordeal started. Brandon will be a senior at Marshall County High School this fall.

Brandon is Shan Wells' only child; his stepfather is Shane Wells, and his biological father is Darryl Bradley.

There will be tremendous expenses associated with Brandon's treatment that are not covered by health insurance, and fundraising efforts are already underway.

"So many have done so many things to help them," Steely said.

Jabbers worked overtime the week after Brandon's diagnosis to print a special T-shirt, featuring a modification of a design Brandon made last fall. The shirts were finished by the end of the week and 228 were sold, and worn to church on Sunday.

This resulted in $900 given to the family.

More shirts of the same design are on order, and another shirt is being prepared at Amazing Designs which should also bring in money for the family.

Another fundraiser will be a huge yard sale, to be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, July 12, and Saturday, July 13, in the First Baptist Church's Paul Woodford Ministry Center, behind the church. If you have items to donate, call Libby Steely at 359-1086 between July 8 and 11, and she will arrange to meet you at the Center to accept the donations.

Mike Luna is in charge of fundraisers outside the church, and is planning a golf tournament, and the sale of "jelly" bracelets inscribed "Team Brandon." For more information, or to offer help or ideas, call Luna at 637-0401 or Carl Clemmins at 993-7100 (between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. please).

For updates on all fundraisers, and on Brandon's condition, please visit the Team Brandon Facebook page at www.facebook.com/teambrandon96. While you're there, be sure to hit the "Like" button.

"He feeds off supporters," said Penny Steely, and already nearly 2,000 have liked his page.

If you want to be a potential bone marrow donor, the first step is to visit the website www.bethematch.org.

An account for Brandon Bradley has been set up at the Bank of America.

He loves getting cards and letters. Send them to Brandon Bradley, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, 2200 Children's Way, Nashville, TN 37232, Room 6303.

Only a few visitors are allowed to see Brandon because his immune system is so weak, so if you go to visit, be prepared for an intensive screening.