by Jesse Florea

Brandon Rys starts his day like most 12-year-olds.

“My mom wakes me up by pulling open my eyelids, because basically that’s the only way I can get up,” Brandon says with a smile.

But from the moment Brandon’s eyes flip open to the time they close at night, his life is far from a typical tween’s existence. Many times he’s waking up in the hospital. And when he finds himself at home, he has to face an arsenal of medications that includes 30 puffs from inhalers for severe asthma.

“I have more than 20 medications that my mom gives me,” Brandon explains.

Brandon’s medical chart reads like an encyclopedia. He has primary immune deficiency, osteoporosis, arthritis, a seizure disorder, glaucoma — the list goes on and on.

His medical problems started after his third birthday. Since that time Brandon has gone through countless tests and endured lengthy hospital stays. When he was younger, the Texas resident told his mom that he just wanted to be a normal kid.

“Back then my definition of normal was never being in a hospital, getting to do whatever I wanted and jumping, playing and riding my bike,” Brandon explains. “Now I understand normal isn’t like that. Normal is how God made you. He made everybody special — that’s normal.”

Bold Witness

Anyone who’s seen Brandon’s smile or heard him laugh knows he has something special. And he’s not shy about telling adults and kids what it is.

“Brandon is always trying to evangelize anyway he can,” his mom Lora says.

From printing out John 3:16 and taping it on his hospital door with a drawing of the cross to handing out tracts, to discussing the creation of the universe, to listening to Adventures in Odyssey tapes in his hospital room, to visiting nursing homes, Brandon takes advantage of every opportunity to spread the good news.

“I just want to get the message across to people that God loves them, that Jesus died for their sins and that if they believe in Him, they can live with Him forever,” Brandon says.

A couple of years ago, an international newsletter asked Brandon to share his thoughts on “Why Children Get Sick.” He wrote that everything happens to the glory of God: Children are better able to be happy in their circumstances. Plus, they don’t blame anybody and are quick to trust God.

“I write this as a child who has been ill his whole life,” Brandon wrote. “Yet I have the greatest joy in knowing Jesus.”

Power to Overcome

Joy, yes. Happiness, not always. Brandon’s health issues keep him out of school and make it hard for him to have friends his own age. His friends tend to be doctors, nurses and other sick children. Oftentimes his friends die.

Brandon’s church provides his family amazing support. Once every member of the church drove to Dallas to visit Brandon in the hospital. And every year church members and a popular Christian author pay for Brandon’s family to go to Wind River Ranch. This Christian guest ranch in Estes Park, Colorado, provides a summer highlight for Brandon.

“This place is full of Christian people who care for each other, so it’s like a giant family,” Brandon explains. “My favorite parts are riding horses and watching the hummingbirds.”

As Brandon plays with “normal” kids who come to the ranch from around the country, his passion for Christ and joy for life are contagious.

“God can use you in any circumstance no matter what your age, health or life is like,” Brandon says.

To find out more about Wind River Ranch, visit their Web site at www.windriverranch.com.