| BOTHELL, Wash. -- The day I met Brenden Foster, I met an old soul in an 11 year old's body. "I should be gone in a week or so," he said calmly. When I asked him what he thought were the best things in life, Brenden said, "Just having one." I didn't understand how this child, who was a year younger than my own son, could be so courageous facing death. "It happens. It's natural," Brenden told me. Three years ago, doctors diagnosed Brenden with leukemia. The boy who once rushed through homework so he could play outside found himself confined to a bed. But there was no confining his spirit. "I had a great time. And until my time comes, I'm going to keep having a great time," he said. Brenden's selfless dying wish was to help the homeless. "They're probably starving, so give'em a chance," he said, "food and water." But Brenden was too ill to feed them on his own. So volunteers from Emerald City Lights Bike Ride passed out some 200 sandwiches to the homeless in Seattle. Then Brenden's last wish took on a life of its own. A TV station in Los Angeles held a food drive. School kids in Ohio collected cans. People in Pensacola, Florida gathered goods. And here in Western Washington, KOMO viewers from all over took part in the Stuff the Truck food drive in Brenden's honor. Hundreds with generous hearts donated six and a half huge truck loads of groceries and more than $60000 in cash to benefit Northwest Harvest and Food Lifeline. Brenden touched hearts all over the world. His wish ... |
