Brandon Hampson -- His life, the story of his struggle with cancer, and his legacy

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Brandon's Story: About Brandon and this Site

Only days after we discovered that he had a brain tumor, Brandon was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, known as anaplastic astrocytoma. Two days later he suffered a debilitating hemorrhage in his brain that paralyzed his right side. On this website we share his brave and determined fight to walk, talk and live his life as happily and fully as possible during his struggle with cancer, the challenges he faced along the way, and how we shared his journey with friends around the world. Please join us in celebrating the joy, hope, and love that was his life as we serve to meet his commitment to “help people” by sharing Brandon’s Story.

Site Map

Biography: An overview of Brandon's life, loves and accomplishments.

Email Archive: The unfolding of Brandon's journey, as written by his family and sent around the globe.

Part 1 In the Beginning: September at Cedars-Sinai. Brandon's biopsy leads to hemorrhaging, but he survives and slowly shows signs of improvement

Part 2 Getting Stronger and Going Home. Starting to walk, write and talk again at Cedars Rehab; a return to Brea after 53 days

Part 3 Hard Work , Happiness and Love. Hiking, lifting, exercising a swallow, fun with the family and holidays at home

Part 4 Making the Most of a New Normal. Going on retreat, getting the bone flap back, seeing friends and enjoying life

Part 5 Facing Difficult Days (the Brandon way...with a smile). Handling infection, surgeries and troubling tests with great courage and grace

Learning and Sharing. Our goal is to give back a little of what we learned along the way...mostly things about health, nutrition and safety, but also a bit about memories and family and spirit and hope...and what it’s like to go on. We began with an email update on June 11, 2005, eleven days before Brandon passed on. We continue to expand these ideas on our Learning and Sharing web site.

Postscript . An un-chosen journey reaches its end

Mom's Journal . Further updates and reflections

Photos old and new of Brandon, his family and friends.

Contributions: For those who choose -- organizations that had special meaning to Brandon.

Organ Donation: Brandon donated all that he could. Why it's important and how to help.

Memorial Service: Word and Pictures from the July 6, 2005 Memorial Service for Brandon.

A family remembrance video prepared by Gary, Terri, Beth and Amy for the Memorial Service, available for high speed connections and lower speed connections.

Our biographical remembrance of Brandon spoken by the Reverend Matt Seargeant of the Brea United Methodist Church.

Shortly after Brandon left us, we started this website by publishing a single page so that the many people who cared about him could know of his memorial service and reception. You can still see that early lovingly prepared website. Please use your browser "back" button to return to this page.