Brandon James Cook (may 3, 1989 - january 7, 2007)
In January of 2003 Jim and Tamara Cook's 14-year-old son, Brandon, asked to go to Honduras with the church youth group. That summer Brandon and his dad visited Honduras for the first time. That initial request would lead to what Heart4Children is today. Brandon and his family returned to Honduras at least once every year thereafter. In addition, he and his sister, Bethany, spent several weeks each summer during their college breaks serving at Niños de la Luz boys home and the surrounding village.
Over the years, Brandon became a familiar figure there in Armenia Bonito. He could be seen most mornings pushing a wheel barrel loaded with tools and supplies to work on a project. In the afternoons, he would be seen with kids on his shoulders and a line following him to the favorite local swimming hole. He became involved in many lives including his Honduran “grandmother”, Theodora. Brandon was instrumental in building her small cinder-block house, and he painted it the light blue color she wanted. He spent hours in conversation with her over what he called the best coffee in Honduras, which she lovingly cooked for him over her open stove.
He worked long hours helping build the Niños de la Luz community school and helping with other projects at the boys home. He developed close relationships with the boys who lived there, and they considered him their brother. His little “brother,” Cesar, became Jim and Tamara’s godson.
Antonio Menocal
Antonio graduated with an undergraduate degree in math and education from a Honduran university, and he has now completed his masters degree in education also. He has steady employment, and he is married and a father of two children. He is a homeowner and good provider for his family. Antonio is an example of how education can truly change a person’s destiny!
Brandon carried his passion for education and sports with him to Honduras. He taught the boys to play American football and they taught him soccer. Together they built barbells with concrete filled coffee cans attached to a broomstick, and he shared with them proper weight-lifting techniques. His love of learning caused him to push his Honduran friends to excel in school. He set the example by maintaining excellent grades throughout high school and at Rice University, as a double major in math and physics. Brandon realized education was the key to giving young people a better future, and the chance to break out of the poverty their families have known for generations. This knowledge drove him to push his father to begin aggressively raising funds for Heart4Children’s first university student, Antonio Menocal (see Antonio’s story in video below). From that point on, Heart4Children provided education funds for students to attend school, including university or technical school.
On August 28, 2009, Brandon’s life would take a turn that would forever change him, his family, and those who love him. He was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, typically a very treatable cancer. Over the next year and a half, Brandon endured multiple chemo therapy treatment regimens, a stem cell transplant, radiation, experimental treatments, and initial T-cell therapy preparation. All this time, he supported the work of Heart4Children and continued his studies at Texas A&M and then at Rice University. He stayed active and hopeful. On January 7, 2011, at the age of 21, surrounded by friends and his family at Houston Methodist Hospital ICU, Brandon completed his battle with cancer. We believe he is in heaven with the God he believed in and wrestled with, and he is at peace.
Brandon donated his body to the science education world he loved. Over 800 people attended his memorial service, many of whom made donations to Heart4Children in lieu of flowers. Today, The Brandon Cook Memorial Fund brought in nearly $55,000 which was used to support education and projects at Niños de la Luz in Honduras.
Brandon is no longer with us in building Heart4Children, but his life left a lasting impact that continues to encourage others to join the vision of educating the underprivileged by giving from the abundant blessings we have in order to impact others.