Posted on 05/28/2003 6:35:24 AM PDT by Theodore R.
Debilitating illness couldn't stop Germantown grad 'He Never Gave Up'
By David Waters waters@gomemphis.com May 28, 2003
Scott Brandes didn't walk with his class at last week's graduation ceremony for Germantown High School.
He didn't walk because he's been too weak to attend school the past two years.
He didn't walk because he hasn't walked since he got his first wheelchair in the second grade.
He also didn't walk because he already had his diploma.
In fact, Scott was the first member of Germantown's Class of 2003 to receive his diploma.
"Finally, I graduated. It's great to be free. No more homework or tests," said Scott, whose wit is as dry as his mouth often gets.
Scott, 17, is confined to his bed. He has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the most common and rapidly progressive form of the chronic and fatal disease. The disease has been progressing rapidly in Scott the past two years.
After his sophomore year at Germantown, Scott caught pneumonia. His weight dropped from 105 to 53. He was on life support.
"He never gave up, and no small part of that was from the deep faith of his mother and father," said Caby Byrne, a family friend.
"This is a remarkable family."
Scott's mother, Julie Minnick, became a nurse just so she could take care of Scott. She worked for years with paralyzed patients at the Memphis Veterans Medical Center.
So did Scott.
"He'd go over there with me and play cards with some of those guys," Minnick said.
"He has such a great spirit that those quadraplegics and paraplegics would come away saying, 'If that kid can deal with it, I can, too.' "
Scott's stepfather, Dan Minnick, is a pilot for FedEx.
"Scott never looks at himself as sick. He's done as much as any kid in his condition could do," he said.
Scott went to school at Riverdale Elementary and Germantown High. He attended preschool, after-school and summer programs at Central Church and Farmington Presbyterian Church.
He played basketball and soccer and was especially adept at moving the ball with his wheelchair.
He painted and had an art exhibit at Methodist Hospice.
He participated in fund-raising walks for the March of Dimes.
He went Christmas caroling. He was baptized and became a member of Bellevue Baptist Church.
He has a black lab named Magic and his own Web site: www.geocities.com/scottb73085.
He rooted for the Germantown Red Devils, graduated with a 3.2 grade-point average and got his picture in the yearbook.
Scott spent his junior and senior years hitting the books at home with help from teacher Nina Godwin. He was gone so long, you think he'd be forgotten by now.
Not a chance.
"You don't forget someone like Scott," said Gwen Rucker, who works in special services at Germantown High.
"He's just as bright and quick-witted as any kid I know. We miss him."
Scott wanted to graduate with his class last Thursday at the Mid-South Coliseum. But lately Scott's body has been too weak and his breathing too difficult for him to get out of bed.
His parents asked Dr. Lonnie Harris, Germantown's principal, if he could bring Scott's diploma to the house.
"We can do better than that," Harris said.
Earlier this month, some of Scott's fellow seniors came by the house. They brought a cake, two big cards signed by members of the Class of 2003, and a homemade video featuring class members holding two big signs:
"We Miss You, Scott" and "Congratulations, Scott."
On the afternoon of May 16, Harris dropped by with a dozen administrators and teachers from Germantown High. Teachers from Riverdale and Farmington were there, too.
So were Scott's parents, grandparents, cousins, other family and friends. So were Jared and Sarah, two of Scott's best friends from school.
They had hoped to have a formal graduation ceremony for Scott in the living room. But Scott was sick and too weak to leave his bed.
So Harris went into Scott's room and gave him his red cap and gown and his diploma.
Afterward, Scott's parents took turns thanking all present for all they've done to help their son.
"We've really had angels all along the way," Julie Minnick said.
Angels and Red Devils.
Contact columnist David Waters at 529-2399 or E-mail waters@gomemphis.com. Faith Matters runs on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
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