memory jewels in honor of our girl

We are presently working with a local artist in developing new memory jewels for families who want a little part of their loved one with them all the time. In the midst of all this my friend and local artist offered to make this jewelry for grieving and longing parents, spouses, friends and children of loved ones past or loved ones in another state, country or the military. We can make the jewelry incorporating your loved ones ashes, fingernail, hair or tiny pieces of fabric from a favorite clothing article, teddy bear, etc. Please feel free to ask any questions and we will try to promptly answer any and all questions you might have. I have added a few photos including one we can make with a small dragonfly. We also do animals remains or hair follicle. Each piece is sold for $65.00 and $10 will go to Donate Life in honor of Brande Nicole Denson.

Call the artist for more info

Su Stella

228-2632333

May the sun shine on you each day, even if just a little.....

for questions email sherrylsellers@yahoo.com or call 318-868-7190

Oh my, What a weekend we have had with Brande's recipient family. I am so proud to say that we met Louis and his beautiful wife Charlotte. son Sean and his wife Farrah. we were so excited to meet and spend time with them thanks to Donate Life and lopa.org. I just have to thank Louis for sharing his family and his journey with me and my family. I am sure he was a bit overwhelmed when he met me. I am so interested in meeting the people my daughter has helped in life. Louis and his family are such wonderful people and they were given a miracle that was produced by God and Brande. He used her to create this miracle for their family and she lives on through them. You know, I believe to this day that satin can set before us what he will but God will decide on all miracles in the end. I am so happy that this family decided to share their journey with ours. Thank you Louis, Charlotte, Sean and Farrah for being here for our family in our time of need and our search for understanding. We are so happy that Louis is doing well and cannot wait to spend time with your family again. We miss our loving little happy girl and know that her blessing has created another chapter in our lives. You have given us hope that other organ recipients will contact us so we can see how they have progressed after surgery. I spoke of you at the University Club in Shreveport today and shared your story and photos with heart filled love for your family. Brande continues in life afterlife to help others and that is just what she did on earth. We are so proud of her and of you for both accomplishing the unbelievable task of survival. I know a lot of you will not understand the concept, but Brande and Louis know exactly what I am talking about. God Bless YOU................Sherry Denson Sellers

Another profit of her love

If any of you remember when School was about to start I said I needed a break and thought that because I was Pisces I needed to go to the beach. I called it one last mad dash to the beach before school. WE TOOK THIS PHOTO IN GULFPORT MS. Just another way of telling me she loves me, That my girl and God is with me always. He tells me that he will provide everything I need if I only trust in him. Please read our recent letter from Louis, Brande's' liver recipient.
Dear Sherry and family,
I received your letter, It was good to hear from you. My doctors say things are looking good and they have taken me off some medications and lowered the dose of others. I have put on about 25 pounds and I feel much better. the doctors said I can jog and lift light e=weights at the gym and I am getting stronger. I truly have been blessed by family and Friends. but mostly by Brande and God. thanks for the picture. We did find Brande on the Internet. She was a beautiful girl here on earth and is beautiful in heaven now. I cant Wait to see her and thank her for the great gift of life. She has blessed me and my family. I can feel her smiling on me every day. we will be in shreveport in November at the state fair. We cant wait to meet you all. I hope to hear from you soon. We will be leaving that Friday from GULFPORT, MS. IT IS ABOUT FIVE HOURS i THINK. WITH LOVE ... LOUIS.....

Another Heroic Move for Brande

This is a letter we recieved from Barbara, Brande's heart recipent. Funny thing is Sue Stella Mieley gave me a book 3 days before I recieved this letter: The name of the book is A Change Of Heart by Claire Sylvia and William Novak and Dr. Berhie Siegel,MD. It is a story about a woman who recieves the heart of a young man. It truly helped me as a donor family member to understand what the recipents may go through on the other end of this spectrum. Thank God for true friends. Thanks Sue & Curt, we love you.

To the loving caring family that donated their loved one's organs to help save others lives,

I recieved (Brande's) heart and now I live for both of us

I'll tell you a little about what WE are doing together.
WE belong to a Christian church and belive that God had a hand in all of this.
WE will be helping others as God directs the future of OUR life.
WE are in an experimental program to help others who get a heart transplant in the future. The doctors are learning from US.
WE have offered to speak for the Heart Association in regards to more people considering donation of thier organs.
WE watch the sunset together, take walks together, go fishing together and visiting with family and friends.
In the future WE are hoping to return to work.
Work has always been being an advocate for others in the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assult issues. If the good Lord wishes WE will continue to do this work.
My family, friends and I cannot thank you enough for this gift you have given me. I will be grateful and thankful the rest of my life. We have prayed for your family and your loss. God will belss you and yours in the future and I know your loved one is in his presence.
God be with you as he is with US.

Barbara and (Brande)

Brande's first recipient reply

Dear Sherry and family,

I am glad to hear from you. My wife Charlotte and I, as well as our two sons Ryan, 29 and Sean, 25 are extremely grateful for Brande's very generous gift of life. She was most certainly a very caring and giving person.

As for me, I am 54 years old and a retired teacher and head high school football coach, My liver started failing me about 16 months ago. I became very ill prior to the transplant. Words cannot express the feelings i have for your daughter and family. It was my second chance for life. all my family members are extremely grateful. It has been abut 2 Months since the surgery and the doctors say the liver is functioning well. I feel much better and am recuperating well. I hope to teach again in a Private school.

It is nice to know that there is concerned people out there who would be willing to Be an organ donor. I Had singed up myself. my two Son and wife are now going to be donors. I have been approached by schools to talk about my experience and organ donation. This is possible because of your daughter's foresight and feelings for people. Words cannot express the felling I have for the loss of you daughter, but you can rest assured that I will do every thing possible to honor your daughter's sacrifice to me. My family and I are looking forward to meeting you at the picnic in Shreveport in November. We will be there barring any complications that may arise. I hope to hear from you soon. We will try and find out the time and place for the picnic. With very much love,


Louis

Photos of our girl

IF ANYONE WANTS TO CONTACT BRANDE'S FAMILY PLEASE GO TO FACEBOOK AND LOOK UP SHERRY SELLERS. OR CALL ME AT 318-294-9051
Here is Brande with her sisters, Joe and a few photos when she was younger. We miss her and we love her. We continue to pray for her recipients. We know of four and we are very greatful that God has given us these miracles.
Barbra in Wisconcin age 66 (Brandes Heart)
Cary in Louisiana age 26 (Pancrease and R.Kidney)
Serita in Texas age 48 (mom of 7 children) (left kidney)
Louis in Mississippi age 54 (Brandes liver)

We are also adding Brande to the OUR HERO'S PAGE ON THE LOPA WEBSIGHT
http://www.lopa.org/heroes.html

Please continue to pray our family, her sisters, brothers and grandmother. We still cry each day and the boys say things because they do not understand. We find it hard to come across her photos or her class ring. Her hair pins and perfume. We find peace with God to make it, but we still need all the prayer we can get.
Gods love be with you
Sherry

Kings Highway Christian Church
801 Kings Highway
Shreveport, LA 71106


Our physical address is

Sherry & Phil Sellers
1055 Southfield Road
Shreveport, La 71106

a story and a lil update

I would like to thank each and every person, family member, Team National associates and friends for being there for me and for Brande. We had about 300 people at Brandes memorial and it was so touching for me to see how much my daughter is loved. We appreciate all of you and my dear sweet sister cindy for your support, My loving coaches Don & Laura Glover and my friend/sister Barb Parks for flying out to stay with me in my time of sorrow. I love you all

We still do not know all of info on the recipients for Brandes organs but patiently waiting and now I have to write a letter about Brande for lopa. We do know of these and hope you will pray for each and every one of them
Barbara in Wisconcin is 66 years of age
Cary in Louisiana is 26 and waited 15 months.
Serita in Texas is 48, has 7 children and waited 85 months
Louis in Mississippi is 54 years old.

It will go on the websight under Our Hero's so if you like you can go there. I will include the address below.

Kings Highway Christian Church is still accepting donations in memory of Brande and I will post how much we will have for the Scholorship for a student in Brandes honor. We will also make a donation to the Youth in memory of Brande.

I remember a time when Brandes sister Christy had a Gymnastics meet in Seattle WA. I told Brande (age 3 at the time) that I was going to let her stay with grandma while I went to Seattle. She said well I want to see Attle too mama. I could not for the life of me explain to her that I was going to Seattle the town in WA and not to visit someone named Attle. Each day I called and she would ask if I have seen Attle yet and to tell her hi for me. I came home with a teddy bear named Attle and she slept with it every night. We still have that old bear.... Brande we miss and love you sooo much...
mom

LOPA (http://www.lopa.org/heroes.html

Brande Nicole Denson Our Hero

I remember so clearly Brande's 17th birthday. She got out of bed and came into the kitchen where I was doing my daily whatever moms do. I ask her what she wanted to do for her birthday and she replied. I want to go and give blood with you mom. What a great gift to give on someone's birthday. So not about her.... I am so proud of brande and will have information on the people she has helped by donating her organs. My little girl is quite the hero and i love her. Please keep her recipiants in your prayers that they might be healed by Gods loving grace and Brande's giving heart.

sherry

http://www.lopa.org/heroes.html

Thank you for your heartfelt concern and all of your love for our daughter.
Sherry Sellers, Phillip Sellers

flowers and donations

We have had many calls about brande for flowers and donations. In lue of flowers Brande wanted to help others so a fund has been set up in her name through KHCC. You can make donations to KHCC and reference Brande Denson in the memo of the check. This will help benefit a College student with Dyslexia in Nursing School. and the youth . Thank you for your heartfelt concern and all of your love for our daughter.

Sherry

Kings Highway Christian Church
801 Kings Highway
Shreveport, LA 71106

Our physical address is

Sherry & Phil Sellers

1055 Southfield Road

Shreveport, La 71106

LSU Medical Center did at least 8 surgeries last night for recipents and we should know how many people Brande has helped with her donations of organs within two weeks.

Brande's love

Today Brande went to heaven with our lord God. She was pronounced at 8:05am at LSU Medical Center where LOPA (there website below.) http://www.lopa.org/heroes.html took over. We went to the hospital to pray for healthy organs that can possibly save over 50 lives. What a gift. That's my girl. Always giving. We are so grateful for all of the prayers, food and support all of our family, friends and loved ones (YOU) have provided.

We will be having a memorial and celebration of life Service for Brande on Sunday April, 26, 2009 at 2:00 with fellowship to follow in the family life center at the church.

Kings Highway Christian Church
806 Kings Highway
Shreveport, LA 71106

Brande's favorite colors are pink and Black and those are the colors of the day. This is not a funeral, it is a celebration of her life and those she touched on the way. We love Brande and miss her terribly, but we will celebrate God's love for her and her love for others.

In lieu of flowers, donations for Brande will be accepted for Brande's benefit and to help others college students with dyslexia make a difference in nursing by way of scholarship to Tyler Junior College where Brande was a student. or LSUS All donations can be made to Kings Highway Christian Church at the above address with the name of Brande Denson in the Memo section of the check.

We have been notified that Brande's heart, pancreas, both kidneys , liver and lungs will be able to received by others in need of such organs. We are overjoyed for Brande who continues to give on earth while in Heaven. Please pray for those recipients of these organs, that they may lead a life of happiness and live in Gods words as they carry around our daughter for many years to come. Thurs. 2:15 pm. April, 22, 2009

Wednesday, April 21,2009

Brande has been taken off of the paralytic and the sedatives to see if she will wake. She has not been responsive so far. I met with her surgeons and there is no way to operate, so we are hoping for a miracle. They went through her MRI and showed me the damage that has been done and the difficulty of the situation. I had to find a hiding place today to pray. I ask God to tell me what to do. Two lovely women were sent to me to tell me to Get into a place and ask for strength and peace, for guidance and direction. I found a lot of peace in this scripture

/ Hebrews 11:1-2-3 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds, were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

I am comforted to know that Brande is here for a reason bigger than my expectations of her.

I just want to thank God first for giving me 19 wonderful years with my girl so far, and thank all of you who have prayers for her, me and my family. My heart is full of gratefulness for the love and support I receive each day. Please know without it I would collapse. We are swamped with calls of love each day. Please know today I had to just set my phone aside so please do not feel offended if I do not answer. I do hear your messages and read your text. I also feel your love and kindness each day.
love Sherry

There has been no change but we'll see the doctor at 4:00 pm today for furhter information and please continue your prayers and bear with us as we continue our search for the miralces we desire. 2:45 pm Tuesday April 21, 2009

Sunday evening's visitation was quite informative and Mark ( the intern watching our angel ) describe some events and provided much needed information. Brande's main injury is at the brain stem, which took a severe blow in the accident. It has an envelop surrounding it. It is this location that has been swelling. There would be more damage trying to operate on this area than there would be by just leaving it alone. It has been decided not to chemically induce the coma as that would just numb the brain but not do anything to reduce the swelling process. The doctors have been wonderful and they are doing the majority or the work but God is in control of our angel, Brande. Please continue your prayers for her because Sherry and I still have hopes and dreams of her coming home to us. Thanks. Monday, April 20, 9:00am

The Girl We love so much

As of 4:30 Sunday afternoon, Brande has not responded as we have prayed for. Her CAT scan this morning showed signs of small strokes and there have been continued spikes in her brain pressure. We still believe that God has a higher reason to keep her with us and we are praying to have the Doctors hands and decisions controlled by Him. The next step is being decided as I write as to whether have her chemically induced into a coma and see if that will slow the frequency of her brain pressure spikes.

Now more than ever, please give Brande your deepest and most heart felt prayers and maybe God will let us have her back in our home for love and recuperation.

Yesterday (Saturday) the doctors had to replace the fiber optic pressure sensor in her head so they could get a more accurate level of her brain pressure. The pressure sensor was removed on Friday as they prepared her for an MRI ( it was eventually cancelled ) but relied on a drain to give her pressure levels but it was not very accurate. She is still breathing on a ventilator for oxygen support while they have her medically paralyzed to keep her from moving anything. She needs complete stillness and we have tried not to talk to her or touch her so that she has no stress what so ever but doing so is very hard.

Today, Sunday, April 19 at 1:00pm Brande is resting comfortably with little change from last night where all her levels are acceptable but a few brain pressure spikes during the night. When she had those spikes, the nurses bagged her with oxygen ( placed a plastic instrument over her nose and mouth and forced air into her sysyem ) she responded immediately but the nurses were expecting a 15-20 minutes response time. Again another miracle at work as they can't explain her immediate response. She is being completely still and that is what she needs.

We have received many wonderful prayers and help from everyone. The prayers across the country are so greatly appreciated as God still has his hands on her, and whatever the destination He has for Brande, we know it is best but we want her to wake up again and we'll go from there in her recovery. God Bless everyone, or as they say in Louisiana, God Bless Yall.

Before I went to see Brande this afternoon, I went to take pictures of her car. After I saw the car, it truely is a miracle that she is with us today. The passenger side of the car was caved in to the middle of the car and it looks like they had to use the jaws of life to remove her. I will not post the car unless Sherry wants to post it.

Brande is resting well in her medically induced sleep as she heals. The team of doctors are assessing her pituitary gland some more and waiting for new test results before any new decisions. They have not done the trecheotomy ( spelling) as of yet. For some time this morning her brain pressure had risen to about 30 but is back down as of this writing to around 20. She still responds to voices as we see her blood pressure rise and fall as we speak to her. Her mom & dad have come in town as has her sisters and grand parents ( all from Texas). Time of this writing- April 17, 6:00pm

After visiting Brande for the 4:30 time period, not much has changed in the over scheme of things. The new team of doctors seem to be focusing on her potassium ( K )levels most. The feeding tube is more for fluids now than anything. She needs to get rid of her K slowly so they are giving her liquids to help her urinate more liquid and thus remove the K. . Too or much fast and she cramps up and that it not good. So they have decided to not have her wake up for another day or two depending on the K levels.

Her brothers Myles and Reece saw her for the fisrt time and we prayed together and tied a knot on her prayer blacket that was donated by Grace Baptist Church. Barring any complications, we believe that our prayers and yours have let God know that we care and that his hands are all she needs to back to us complete.

Again, thank you all for your prayers and support.
Current time: 6:30p, Thursday CST

Thursday' s Update

Brande was in an automobile accident on Sunday, April 12th and arrived at the LSU hospital unconscious and remains that way for the past 96 hours.

Brande's condition has not made any majors changes from Wednesday. Wednesday, she did move her right arm voluntarily and responded to Sherry's voice with a noticable increase in blood pressure. She has been cleaned up by her nurses and she looks terrific for her circumstances.

Her current status has her resting well under sedation but today they are looking at placing a treach tube and remove the respirator tube so that it is easier to manipulate. Additional, they are looking at her potassium levels which are high. Her pituitary gland is not operating properly and they are working on controlling it with meds until further information is available. They have removed her brain pressure tube but left in the drain to continue the relief of pressure. Also, her sedative medication is being decreased to allow her to wake up on her own but they still have reservation about how she will react to waking up and not knowing where she is and fear that she might struggle during that period. We still want her to remain motionless.

We want to thank everyone across the nation for their constant prayers as God has taken over and placed her in his hands for her full recovery. Our friends and family at Kings Highway Christian Church, Team National and Southfield School have been invaluable in their support and prayer in the helping and healing of our wonderful daughter.

Continued update will follow. Current time- 1:00pm Thur., April 16