Don Culp has been in the military for the past 23 years, and is married with 5 children. He entered the military at just 17 and a junior in high school, and he completed basic training between his junior and senior year. About a week after graduating high school he left to finish his AIT (advanced individual training). He had always wanted to be a pilot and fly, and in 2008 he found out that he was selected to go to flight school. Today, Don is also a Flight Consultant on the civilian side teaching kids about STEM through Aerospace specifically related to flying.

In today’s episode, Don candidly and vulnerably shares his family’s journey with his daughter Braelyn Aubrey. In 2008, when she was just six months old, Braelyn started to show issues with minor eye deviations, and they soon came to find out that she was having seizures. In 2011, after Don graduated from flight school, he had to come home from his deployment in Iraq because Braelyn experienced another seizure and was taken to a local children’s hospital. This began a series of hospital visits, and after experiencing a stroke a portion of Braelyn’s brain was damaged. She started to show signs of improvement, and Don returned to his deployment. Braelyn had gone nine months without a seizure or hospital visit, but on a trip to Florida she had a seizure again.

On October 1, 2012, Don came home from work and saw that Braelyn was sick. As it got closer to bedtime he gave her a hug and she patted him on the back and kissed her goodnight, and told her that he loved her. As Don shares, he didn’t know that would be the last time he’d be able to do that. The next day when he was at work, Braelyn passed away. As Don shares, his daughter had a fighting spirit, she never quit, and today he continues to work to emulate her no quit, joyful attitude.

Don started the Braelyn Aubrey foundation in her memory, and it’s through the foundation that he’s able to honor her, her memory, and help children with impairing conditions. The idea is to advocate, donate, and assist programs that help children and children like Braelyn. The goal is to aid in their pursuit of increased self-independence and a better quality of life. Today, Don and his family continue to honor Braelyn and her spirit. Don’s story is a beautiful reminder of the power of honoring the loved ones in our lives - their story and their memory - and just how important it is to make the most of our current situation. Don has learned he’s blessed beyond measure to have his wife and kids and to have had a child such as Braelyn in his life. Don’s biggest dream is to honor Braelyn’s memory and ensure her spirit lives on through all that he does.

“My daughter had a fighting spirit, she never quit. Even though she was three, I try to emulate her no quit, joyful attitude. I have to admit that I definitely fall short quite often. She was very special and she’s missed deeply. I started the Braelyn Aubrey foundation in her memory, and it’s through the foundation that I’m able to honor her, her memory, and help others like her.”

— Don Culp

Tune in on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7bZHrtjAzbksbLWNaak1NM

Tune in on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stories-of-inspiring-joy/id1510488632

To connect with Don and learn more about the Braelyn Aubrey Foundation visit their website TheBraelynAubreyFoundation.org

Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.