Prayers & donations needed in memory of Brandon Martin-Smith

Hope Martin and her mother Toni Martin-McDaniel have undergone heartbreak that no mother or grandmother should ever have to face. On August 19, 2024, Hope's only child, her son, Brandon Martin-Smith, passed away due to having 5 seizures back to back. The team at MUSC Charleston tried their hardest to save him, but his heart just couldn't take it anymore.

It is my hope to raise lots of prayer, epilepsy awareness, and financial assistance for Hope and Toni during this extremely hard time.

Brandon was diagnosed with epilepsy two years ago when he started having seizures out of nowhere. They were severe, scary, and would happen with little notice. This affected his ability to go to school, work, even out of the house for fear of having a seizure in public. It also affected Hope's ability to keep a job because she would have to leave work at a moment's notice to rush to the hospital to be with him. Their new normal revolved around not knowing day to day if he was going to have a seizure, needing to be rushed to the hospital.

Hope and Toni, who live in the same household with Brandon, have also had their share of health issues. Hope has a heart condition and Toni recently injured her shoulder, which has left her unable to work. Hope has been spending most of her time trying to care for her mom and Brandon.

Despite all the hardships, they all have kept incredibly good spirits! Brandon shared a larger than life attitude and a great big smile with his mama and grandmother.

Brandon grew up coming into my dad's gas station every day after school. His mama always said that several of us who worked there were part of the village that helped raise her boy. And after seeing comments on her Facebook just in the first 24 hours of his passing, I know Brandon has one heck of a village!

Hope, Toni, and their family need Brandon's village more than anything right now. While they take some comfort in the fact that he is at peace and no longer suffering from such a horrible disorder, they are left completely and understandbly heartbroken and incomplete.

They need lots and lots of prayer, as the Lord is our provider and comforter. It is my hope through prayerful financial gifts, that we as a community will be able to aid this sweet family with Brandon's funeral expenses and household bills, so they can have the opportunity to properly grieve this tragic loss without worrying about how much it all costs.

This has been so extremely hard to write, so thank you for reading to the end. No contribution is too small. I will update as I find more information out about services. God bless you.