Sheldon James Brown
13 Year Old Angel
On May 2,1991 @ 0757 God gave me this perfect little boy. When he was 13 years old he lost his battle with Juvenile Huntington’s Disease, the disease that took everything a little boy should be away, and I have to say that it is the hardest thing any person should ever have to go thru. I sat and watched this little boy of mine who had started walking and talking at age of 7 months, go from every milestone to being unable to speak correctly , walk without falling and hurting himself. I knew God allowed him to do all this early because he knew that he wouldn’t be that way for long. At age 9 is when the seizures started that robbed him of his ability to walk, talk, eat and play. I watched day after day as my child wasted away and lost all the things that a child of his age should still be able to do. We lived in and out of hospitals until the week before he passed. A few days before he passed he opened his eyes as to look at me (and stick his tongue out at me) for the last time to tell me that he was going to be okay. I whispered in his little ear that it would be okay if he needed to go and that mommy would be alright. One week later he passed away in my arms in our bed with his family and friends by his side. His step dad and him had a bond like no other in those 4 short year that he waited until my husband walked thru the door to take his last breath. I took my stethoscope and listened as he took his last breath and the last beat his little heart would ever make. I heard his first beat and his last . I wanted to give him to Jesus the way he lent him to me so I removed all his tube and lines so that he was perfect again to meet Jesus. After about 2 hours it was time to hand him over for the last time , as I walked to the funeral director carrying his little 30 lb lifeless body that was still for the first time in so many years, in life he shook so bad …..As I walked to the stretcher it felt like I had 10,000 lbs pulling me back as I was afraid I wasn’t going to be able to fulfill my part of the bargain I made to him and be ok. I swear my faith wavered like it never had before. I knew that I had to believe that this was Gods will and he had needed him more than we did but I couldn’t believe that it was supposed to be this way. I thank God for 13 of the most amazing years with this funny little boy with a smile to light up the world . He was our hometown hero, our local fireman met Shell by going to his school and eating lunch with him several times a week and the day prior to passing they brought him his own official shirt and badge. 4 years earlier on his 9th birthday they gave him his official fireman’s helmet with his name one it and those were on display at the funeral, the firemen who loved him so carried my child to his final resting place. At his service we played God Speed from the Dixie Chicks and it was so fitting and those lyrics are what gets me by everyday still. (God Speed little man, sweet dreams little man, oh my love will fly to you to you each night on Angels wings , God Speed, sweet dreams. God Bless mommy and matchbox cars, God Bless dad and thanks to the lstars, God hears “Amen” wherever you are and I love you, God Speed.. sweet dreams.) My husband isn’t Sheldons bio dad (his dad passed years later from HD) but He sure loved his P as he called him, his mommy and his brothers and sisters .. He had the happiest life that any child could’ve had even with all the pain this baby had to endure ..We will see you soon sweet boy and you will be running and playing like you couldn’t here on this earth . Thank you Jesus for allowing me the pleasure of having this little boy in my life , I’m still not sure what I did to deserve him! I know first hand how HD knows no age limits, shows no mercy .. We just have to find a cure so no other families have to endure the devastating disease. God gave me the most incredible little boy to love for only a short time but I have a lifetime of memories in my heart ! He suffered most of his life but did it with a smile and dignity. There wasn’t a person that ever met him that didn’t love him and commend him for always being so strong, he never let it get him down! Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to tell part of our story as I write this thru tears I hope it makes sense. We all love and miss you so much and we will see you again some day!
Sheldon James Brown
05/2/1991-10/1/2004
https://campaignformybrain.co.uk/our-shining-star-sheldon-james-brown-02-05-91-01-10-04
JHD Initiative 