Fraternity Life

When I hear someone mention the word fraternity it takes me back to my college days. For some of you that word may take you to the same place. These days were happy for me and filled with good friends and times that bring a smile to my face. However since Cindy and I lost our dear daughter Brianna, we have joined a fraternity that is not as much fun as those college days. This fraternity also has limited membership but nobody wants to go through the initiation process to join.

Many of us find ourselves in bad situations but we think that we are the only ones going through it. This could be divorce, health issues or just problems within our own family. The truth is that most of our problems are not unique. There are so many other people that have gone through a very similar if not the exact same situation. We can lean and learn from those people for the help we need.

I am not sure if I read this or thought it up on my own. But after losing a child I said that we joined a fraternity that nobody EVER wants to join. This is also true after Brandon’s diagnosis of cancer. When a parent hears either of these statements it starts a long process that everyone takes at a different pace. Some can return to their new normal after a relative short time. Some are in the exact same place even years later.

One thing that we do here at Brianna Cooper Heavenly Smiles Foundation is offer hope. Not in the sense that we “hope” these people get to a better place. But we hope that they see us as inspiration that they can make it. It doesn’t mean that everyone should start a foundation and help others. But that they can live life again and be happy despite all of the negative things that have happened.