The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
July Issue 105
All Rights Reserved
Inspirational is inspirational
- there is no right or wrong way to inspire; however, there are some who have
the capacity to change your entire outlook on life by doing nothing other than
being themselves.
Brandon
Harrison is one of those “incidental inspirers” whom, from a very early age,
has been fighting for a life that so many of us take for granted; a life of
“normalcy”. At age three, Brandon was diagnosed with neuroblastoma - a common
and oftentimes fatal childhood cancer that is typically found and diagnosed in
patients under five years of age. Although family and friends stayed positive
and professionals worked diligently to secure his health, doctors were only
able to give Brandon a 25% chance of survival.
After
tireless years of check-ups and an overly intrusive 14-hour operation, Brandon
was finally given a clean bill of health at five years old. Now ordinarily,
what a 5 year old accomplishes in their short time here on earth would be
worthy of a refrigerator magnet and a big “good job” hug - but how do you
congratulate someone so little on fighting earnestly to save their own lives?
That thought in and of itself is mind boggling. At just five years old, this
little boy had fought - and won - against one of the most fatal diseases of our
time.
Over the next decade, Brandon spent his days like most every other child - playing, wrestling around with his two brothers and attending school. At age 15, however, his life was changed and it changed literally overnight.
As he was getting ready one morning for yet another ordinary day in the classroom, Brandon suddenly lost consciousness - and when he came-to, he realized that he had just lost a large portion of his vision. Being the tenacious little trekker that he was, he carried on like normal and headed to school. When he arrived back home that afternoon he called his mother to tell her what had happened; it was shortly after that phone call that he learned he had had a stroke.
Over the next decade, Brandon spent his days like most every other child - playing, wrestling around with his two brothers and attending school. At age 15, however, his life was changed and it changed literally overnight.
As he was getting ready one morning for yet another ordinary day in the classroom, Brandon suddenly lost consciousness - and when he came-to, he realized that he had just lost a large portion of his vision. Being the tenacious little trekker that he was, he carried on like normal and headed to school. When he arrived back home that afternoon he called his mother to tell her what had happened; it was shortly after that phone call that he learned he had had a stroke.
After months
of struggle and Gamma Knife Radiation Therapy (used to shrink the AVM that had
caused his stroke), Brandon’s life seemed back on track; it was only a brief
reprieve from the medical chaos, however, because shortly thereafter it
happened again. He, Brandon Harrison, had suffered yet another stroke at the young age of 17.
This time, Brandon woke up with a fierceness - a “you can’t beat me,” mentality like he never had before. And so, in an effort to prove to himself and the world around him that disease was no match for him, he decided to tour across country to raise awareness for the Heart & Stroke and Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundations - on his longboard.
“You can play the why me? card, or you can spin it, find the positive and use it to your advantage,” he told me when I asked him what inspired him to do such an amazing thing. “I fought a battle and won and to me, this was like redemption for all of those who never got ‘tomorrow’…”
Brandon’s father Michael Floyd, a 40-something financial and insurance advisor who had never set foot on a longboard before, decided, without hesitation, that he was going along too. Within a year, Michael had purchased a board, learned to skate, recruited some sponsors and jetted off with his son to begin their country-wide excursion.
This time, Brandon woke up with a fierceness - a “you can’t beat me,” mentality like he never had before. And so, in an effort to prove to himself and the world around him that disease was no match for him, he decided to tour across country to raise awareness for the Heart & Stroke and Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundations - on his longboard.
“You can play the why me? card, or you can spin it, find the positive and use it to your advantage,” he told me when I asked him what inspired him to do such an amazing thing. “I fought a battle and won and to me, this was like redemption for all of those who never got ‘tomorrow’…”
Brandon’s father Michael Floyd, a 40-something financial and insurance advisor who had never set foot on a longboard before, decided, without hesitation, that he was going along too. Within a year, Michael had purchased a board, learned to skate, recruited some sponsors and jetted off with his son to begin their country-wide excursion.
The duo
started in St. John's, Newfoundland with no concrete plan, accommodations or
tour guide. Just two guys, their backpacks, their longboards and a mission to
make a difference. When I asked Brandon what the hardest part of this trip was,
he told me that he can’t stand the rain; like genuinely can’t handle being wet
and cold - but of the first 21 days on their trip, it poured for 18. I couldn’t
help but chuckle a little when he said that (probably more the way he said it, I guess) but I mean,
what are the odds that this life-altering journey would kick off with such a
dreary start? Think that stopped them, though? Not a chance. This father-son
dyad kept at it, skating an average of 60km a day; staying with old friends,
friends of friends and the new friends they met along the way.
“It was amazing, actually,” says Brandon. “We were down at Middle Cove Beach and we were talking to this group of guys about places we could stay for the night. They told us that they knew a place and that they would come back to get us to show us where it was. A couple of hours later, here they are with beers and steaks telling us that we were staying with them and it was BBQ time. It was such a cool experience.”
“It was amazing, actually,” says Brandon. “We were down at Middle Cove Beach and we were talking to this group of guys about places we could stay for the night. They told us that they knew a place and that they would come back to get us to show us where it was. A couple of hours later, here they are with beers and steaks telling us that we were staying with them and it was BBQ time. It was such a cool experience.”
On another
occasion, the pair was in a small little shop when some locals overheard their
story. “They invited us to stay at their place that night,” Brandon told me,
“and they even cooked us a big, delicious breakfast in the morning before we
headed back out on the road.”
Brandon and
his father were touring the provinces and inspiring change the entire way.
After 5400 km, some sheer exhaustion (I would imagine) and experiences that not
too many of us have had the pleasure of, they finally reached Lake Louise,
Alberta; they hopped into a car and headed east to Red Deer, where the Heart
& Stroke Foundation was holding their second annual longboarding
fundraiser. It was a cold, rainy, stormy day (and we know how much Brandon
loves those) with people gathered from all around to show their support and it
was that day, September 7, 2014, at that event, with only 1200km to finish his
cross-country trip, that Brandon had his third massive stroke.
Brandon
spent the next 105 days in the hospital - many of which were in a coma -
fighting for his life and his right to finish what he had started. Forgive me
for searching for symbolisms here, but it was on the morning of his 20th
birthday that Brandon awoke from his coma and do you know what he said one of
his first thoughts was? “The second I opened my eyes I remembered all of those
people who never made it… and that I needed to stay focused on the journey. I
am going to finish this trip, or I am going to die trying.”
After 10 long months of doctors, therapists and treacherous rehabilitation, the now 22 year old has once again set his sights on the finish line. This July, Brandon is hoping to be back up on his longboard, skating to the west coast in the name of survival - and there is not one fibre in my body that doubts he will accomplish it.
“This time, I won’t be going with my father though,” Brandon tells me. “Earlier on in our trip, we decided that regardless of what happens to the other one - the one who is able to will complete the trek in honour of the other, for better or for worse. While I was in the ICU my dad stayed true to our pact and finished the last 1100 km without me - so now, I have a personal battle of redemption. I am going to do it on my own.”
Truthfully, when I began this story I had no idea what I was getting into. I didn’t know Brandon, or his story or what he done in this life - all I knew was that he had a discourse and we wanted to tell it. Now I could say that he is a hero for the battles that he has fought (and conquered) or for the awareness tour he did across Canada and I would be justified; however, those are not the things that impressed me most. What impresses me most is that not once - not even once - did this 22 year old complain in the entire time I talked with him. He was humble, ambitious, and funny; he was kind and he talked about those who weren’t blessed enough as him to get a second chance. He didn’t tell me what a trial his life had been, or how his days were mostly consumed by doctors’ visits and rehab sessions (although he could have and I would not have been the least setback by it) - but he told me without so many words, that life is what we make it and that no matter what the world throws at you, you need to stand strong and thrive and just be grateful for another day.
When I asked Brandon in closing, what message he would like to send out to our readers he said, “You know - just live and love life. No matter what obstacles come your way - just live it and be thankful.”
After 10 long months of doctors, therapists and treacherous rehabilitation, the now 22 year old has once again set his sights on the finish line. This July, Brandon is hoping to be back up on his longboard, skating to the west coast in the name of survival - and there is not one fibre in my body that doubts he will accomplish it.
“This time, I won’t be going with my father though,” Brandon tells me. “Earlier on in our trip, we decided that regardless of what happens to the other one - the one who is able to will complete the trek in honour of the other, for better or for worse. While I was in the ICU my dad stayed true to our pact and finished the last 1100 km without me - so now, I have a personal battle of redemption. I am going to do it on my own.”
Truthfully, when I began this story I had no idea what I was getting into. I didn’t know Brandon, or his story or what he done in this life - all I knew was that he had a discourse and we wanted to tell it. Now I could say that he is a hero for the battles that he has fought (and conquered) or for the awareness tour he did across Canada and I would be justified; however, those are not the things that impressed me most. What impresses me most is that not once - not even once - did this 22 year old complain in the entire time I talked with him. He was humble, ambitious, and funny; he was kind and he talked about those who weren’t blessed enough as him to get a second chance. He didn’t tell me what a trial his life had been, or how his days were mostly consumed by doctors’ visits and rehab sessions (although he could have and I would not have been the least setback by it) - but he told me without so many words, that life is what we make it and that no matter what the world throws at you, you need to stand strong and thrive and just be grateful for another day.
When I asked Brandon in closing, what message he would like to send out to our readers he said, “You know - just live and love life. No matter what obstacles come your way - just live it and be thankful.”
My message to you Brandon is, thank you - you are truly an inspiration.
If you want
to stay up-to-date on Brandon’s progress, or just show your support, follow him
on his Live Life Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/Live-Life-855620751141412/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
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