Fierce, loving, protective, father, son
Brandon was fun, loving, kind and helpful to everyone. He wanted to see people happy and connected. He was protective of those he loved and a risk taker. He enjoyed spending time with family, watching movies and football, and reading Charles Bukowski poems.
Brandon was passionate about Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), originally starting with Taekwondo and eventually moving to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, excelling at both. He practiced MMA, but also educated himself about the history of his art and watched MMA movies. He would likely have become an MMA teacher, given time. Brandon made everyone around him feel safe, not just due to his MMA training and abilities, but because he had a naturally protective nature toward those he loved. If there was any threat, he would stand in its way without thought of harm to himself. At his funeral one of his friends said, “the devil better watch out because his fiercest competitor just arrived in heaven. “
Brandon’s job as an electrician suited his personality as it had some risks involved. He had just obtained his Journeyman’s Electrician license shortly before his death. His mom said: “His job made me nervous, but I never told him, he only knew how proud I was of his accomplishments.”
Autumn was Brandon’s favorite time of year, something his mom and he shared. She has memories of cooking chili on Halloween before sending the kids off to trick or treat, then going through their candy with them on their return. She says, “These were some of the best times of both of our lives.”
Brandon was excited about his future with his fiancé, Amber. He was saving for the perfect ring so he could propose. He wanted a conventional family life with his future wife and their daughter, Brooklyn; he lived to make them happy.
His mom misses everything about Brandon, but mostly what will never happen. There will be no wedding, no shared vacations or birthday celebrations; he will not be there for Halloween or Christmas, and he will miss raising Brooklyn.
Brandon told his “Mom, I will live with this (addiction) the rest of my life; it’s something that will never go away.” His mom says that rings in her ears to this day; the hell he must have lived knowing that, and the fact that there was nothing she could do to change it for him.
His mom says she is now less judgmental, more patient and understanding and has helped others trying to cope with addiction in their family or who have lost their child.
Brandon’s mother, Andrea Delph, provided the information for this narrative.
October 29, 1990-February 10, 2016
Age 25-Lived with addiction 10 years
