When a youngster lost her dad, her world was turned upside down. It wasn't until later that her mother told her what had happened. That conversation inspired the little girl to draw strength from her pain and do something helpful.
Losing a loved one is never easy. No matter how much time passes, some wounds might never heal, leaving behind scars that constantly remind us of what we've lost. Grief and trauma can change people most unexpectedly.
Regardless, some people can ride out the storm and repurpose their sorrow, encouraging others to see the silver lining in an otherwise dark cloud. Today's story is about an exceptionally courageous child, and we hope it will help serve as a beacon of hope and light for people who are going through challenging times.
A CHEERFUL YOUNGSTER
Kyleigh Brunette, 8, lives in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and is not your average youngster. She loves playing sports and spending time with her siblings and family. The little girl comes off as a lively person and a total sweetheart.
Her conversation with her mother encouraged little Kyleigh to do something special for her dad's birthday on July 9.
However, many people might not know that behind her warm smile is the pain she's been hiding since late 2019.
DADDY'S GIRL
Kyleigh was incredibly close to her dad, Jordon Wakefield, who was her partner in disc golf and video games. The daddy-daughter duo loved spending time together and taking long walks to the park. About her father, Kyleigh expressed:
"He was funny and loving and caring for me and he would never, ever yell at me."
A HEART-RENDING LOSS
In November 2019, Kyleigh's world came to a halt when her beloved dad died by suicide. But because she was very young then, her mother, Brittany Brunette-Thimmesch, didn't share the details of what happened. She thought it best to wait for the right time. Brittany shared:
"We didn't want her to start having those feelings of guilt. So we waited, but we didn't want to wait too long because we didn't want her to hear it from someone else."
SHE WANTED CLOSURE
Brittany, 30, and a sub-secretary for the Sheboygan Area School District, explained that her little girl's therapist also suggested she talk to Kyleigh and tell her everything before she heard it from someone else.
She was only six years old when she lost her dad, and the heart-wrenching tragedy turned her life upside down. Finally, in 2022, Kyleigh told her mom she wished to know how her father died, and Brittany said she could see how badly her daughter needed closure.
