Destined To Be a Doctor

In 1990, my childhood friend, Diane and her family came to visit us in Illinois from Hawaii. She brought her husband, Dave (that amazing photographer who does our family photos) and children, Brandon and Kristen.

Brandon was a marvel. He talked a mile a minute and wanted to learn and know everything. There was a constant barrage of questions. Everything around him was a curiosity. He would spend nights sitting on his father's lap in our backyard staring at fire flies. He was interested in everything. Squirrels... chipmunks... whatever...

We were surprised when we arrived in Hawaii a few years ago that he still had an Illinois cicada wing because he was so fascinated by the jeweled colors on one of nature's precious creatures.


When Brandon learned that we were renovating my mother's house in 2006 to move back to Hawaii, he insisted that he wanted to help. He actually took time from his busy studies to come and help Art tile the bathroom floor.


And then... he came back again on another day to help Art dig up a very stubborn bush that Art wanted to transplant to another location. Art wanted to save the bush because the plumbers were going to dig a line to the house.

Brandon nearly wilted from digging in the HOT sun for several long, tedious hours. He really is as tenacious as Art (and that bush). When he says he's going to do something, he's going to follow through no matter how hard it is. The tree was planted in its new location, but died in the weeks ahead. Alas!

We attended Brandon's Convocation ceremony yesterday. He has finished his internship and will now be doing his residency. He is now Dr. Brandon! As if that wasn't enough he was also given two special awards. On top of being in the Honor Medical Society, he received the Maurice Brodsky Memorial Award for excellence in pulmonary medicine and the one I thought he should be most proud of because the recipient of this award was chosen by class vote. It was the Po'okela No'eau Award to recognize the student with characteristics which best exemplify the qualities of the ideal physician!

I was looking at him up on the stage and remembering that little boy who was wondering how fire flies could light up the night.


When I gave him his lei of congratulations I was bursting with pride. Diane and Dave don't like to brag about their son, but I know how ecstatic they were and I'll have to do the bragging for them.


Brandon's wife and daughter were there to add their smiles of joy to the day.

Soon the leis were threatening to pile up and cover his face. Brandon is loved by everybody because he cares about everybody. If I have a medical question about anything, he's always willing to tell me what he's learned. I LOVE it! I just hope he'll set up his practice in Hawaii. I'll bet he'd accept Medicare patients.

Diane and Dave invited us to a family luncheon at Wah Kung Restaurant. I have to tell you the food was amazing. I ate way too much. Notice I ate first and took the photo after. These were only the first few dishes that arrived.

At one point during the meal, Brandon leaned over and asked, "Auntie Kay, how long do you think you can keep posting everyday?"

You see? He still hasn't stopped asking questions. I just love this kid. That's Dr. Kid, mind you!