Published: Sunday, June 7, 2009
The Class of 2009: Drummer is always upbeat
-
Michael O'Leary / The Herald
Marysville-Pilchuck High School graduating senior Brandyn Ruesken.
MARYSVILLE -- Brandyn Ruesken is not one to back away from life.
As drum line captain for Marysville-Pilchuck High School, he pushed himself through parades that left him short of breath. He competed on the school swim team for three years until the chlorine and mold in the school's aquatic center overwhelmed him. He plodded through years of classes -- even when he had to do his school work in a hospital, attached to machines that helped him breathe.
Brandyn, 18, has cystic fibrosis, a life-threatening disease that causes mucus to clog the lungs and other organs. He spent a month in the hospital during his last semester, but managed to earn enough credits to graduate with his class on Friday.
"He's always optimistic," said Marysville-Pilchuck counselor Carol Fisher. "He's just an upbeat kid -- and you would never know the struggles he has to deal with. He's never used it as an excuse."
Fisher's first introduction to Brandyn came in a phone call he made from the hospital. She was scheduled to give a presentation to his class, and he called to make sure he didn't miss anything.
"I was so terribly impressed," Fisher recalled.
Brandyn takes a dozen types of medicine and spends a half-hour plugged into a nebulizer each day. He believes that having cystic fibrosis has made him more optimistic and cheerful. He said he doesn't worry about small problems, like a broken drum, that can stress his classmates.
"It helps me cope with stuff better," he said. "I'm used to having to make decisions and cope with problems. So if something comes up, I can deal with it a lot better than other drummers."
Brandyn is a middle child in a family with six kids. His parents, Cathy and Jim Ruesken, and his siblings always tried to be in the stands when he was drumming or swimming. They also helped keep him connected with school when he was in the hospital.
"I'm proud of his courage, his strength and his attitude with cystic fibrosis," his mom said. "He very, very rarely lets it get him down. He always tries."
Brandyn plans to attend Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma this fall, and hopes to one day become a lawyer or a politician.
More of the Class of 2009:
Cancer hasn't dimmed grad's spirit
Handling a balancing act with grace
Her education gave her purpose
Science whiz knows just where she belongs: MIT
Part-time senior made the most of his year
As drum line captain for Marysville-Pilchuck High School, he pushed himself through parades that left him short of breath. He competed on the school swim team for three years until the chlorine and mold in the school's aquatic center overwhelmed him. He plodded through years of classes -- even when he had to do his school work in a hospital, attached to machines that helped him breathe.
Brandyn, 18, has cystic fibrosis, a life-threatening disease that causes mucus to clog the lungs and other organs. He spent a month in the hospital during his last semester, but managed to earn enough credits to graduate with his class on Friday.
"He's always optimistic," said Marysville-Pilchuck counselor Carol Fisher. "He's just an upbeat kid -- and you would never know the struggles he has to deal with. He's never used it as an excuse."
Fisher's first introduction to Brandyn came in a phone call he made from the hospital. She was scheduled to give a presentation to his class, and he called to make sure he didn't miss anything.
"I was so terribly impressed," Fisher recalled.
Brandyn takes a dozen types of medicine and spends a half-hour plugged into a nebulizer each day. He believes that having cystic fibrosis has made him more optimistic and cheerful. He said he doesn't worry about small problems, like a broken drum, that can stress his classmates.
"It helps me cope with stuff better," he said. "I'm used to having to make decisions and cope with problems. So if something comes up, I can deal with it a lot better than other drummers."
Brandyn is a middle child in a family with six kids. His parents, Cathy and Jim Ruesken, and his siblings always tried to be in the stands when he was drumming or swimming. They also helped keep him connected with school when he was in the hospital.
"I'm proud of his courage, his strength and his attitude with cystic fibrosis," his mom said. "He very, very rarely lets it get him down. He always tries."
Brandyn plans to attend Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma this fall, and hopes to one day become a lawyer or a politician.
More of the Class of 2009:
Story tags »
• Marysville-Pilchuck High SchoolRelated
- The Class of 2009: Cancer hasn't dimmed grad's spirit 6/7/09
- The Class of 2009: Handling a balancing act with grace 6/7/09
- The Class of 2009: Her education gave her purpose 6/7/09
- The Class of 2009: Part-time senior made the most of his year 6/7/09
- The Class of 2009: Science whiz knows just where she belongs: MIT 6/7/09
Comments
(
