Kristen Armstrong’s life took an unexpected turn in 2008 when she received a chilling phone call.
Her husband, Brandon Smith, had been in a severe car accident.
The news was so shocking that she found herself asking her mother, “What will I do if Brandon is gone?”
She couldn’t imagine a life without Brandon, her high school sweetheart and her rock.
At the time, Kristen, a speech pathologist, and Brandon, an auto mechanic, had been married for two years.
Arriving at the hospital, Kristen discovered that Brandon was in the neuro trauma intensive care unit after his car was T-boned by a commercial truck.
He had suffered a traumatic brain injury and was in a coma for two months.
Despite doctors warning her that Brandon would be forever changed if he woke up, Kristen clung to the hope that a miracle would happen and he would be the same Brandon.
But he wasn’t.
Brandon’s injury was so severe that he required round-the-clock care, leading to his move into a nursing care facility in Texas.
Kristen described the period as a time of profound sadness and isolation.
“Every morning I woke up and I was hit by this train of sadness. He was my soulmate, my best friend,” she said.
She found herself grieving for a living person, a complex and isolating experience.
At the time of the accident, Brandon was 23 and Kristen was 24.
She had dreams of having children.
When it became clear that Brandon would never recover, Kristen made the heart-wrenching decision to file for divorce.
However, she vowed to take care of Brandon until the day he passed away.
When she filed papers to become Brandon’s legal guardian, the judge questioned her ability to care for him if she started her own family.
Kristen assured the judge, “Yeah, I’m not going anywhere.”
Kristen kept her promise.
She and her new husband, James Armstrong, whom she married in 2015, visit Brandon regularly.
Their three children also spend time with Brandon.
“We bring Brandon to our house every week and we take him out to restaurants,” Kristen shared.
“What makes it really beautiful is how much my family has accepted Brandon as a part of their family.”
James, 36, has formed a special bond with Brandon.
In a TikTok video viewed over 7 million times, James is seen lovingly spoon-feeding Brandon breakfast at a diner, and then helping him from his wheelchair into a car.
Kristen recalled the first time James met Brandon, “I got up to go to the bathroom and when I came back, James’s arm was around Brandon.”
In his wedding vows, James promised to love and care for Brandon.
According to Kristen, he has lived up to his word.
“James helps in whatever ways he can. He never complains, he’s never uncomfortable. And I think that’s a huge thing. Some of the stuff that comes out of Brandon’s mouth is a little crazy, and he can’t toilet on his own. But none of that bothers James.”
Kristen’s two young daughters adore Brandon and often compete over who gets to snuggle with “Uncle Brandon” on the couch.
Her stepson also shows affection towards Brandon, accompanying Kristen to the nursing home and helping care for him.
Kristen considers caring for Brandon an honor and says her love for him has only grown.
“Brandon’s short-term memory is very poor, so he’s not anxious about tomorrow or regretful of yesterday,” she said.
“I’ve learned from him how to be more present. Even though he can’t communicate well, he’s always teaching us things. He makes life beautiful.”
In a touching TikTok video, Kristen interviewed James about his relationship with Brandon.
James, visibly emotional, said, “He’s our family member. He’s like one of our kids, we love him the same. He’s a central part of our family. He’s a central part of our life.”
This unique family’s story is a testament to the power of love and commitment, transcending traditional boundaries and expectations.
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