When a youngster lost her dad, her world was turned upside down. It wasn’t until later that her mother told her what had happened. That conversation inspired the little girl to draw strength from her pain and do something helpful. Losing a loved one is never easy. No matter how much time passes, some wounds might never heal, leaving behind scars that constantly remind us of what we’ve lost. Grief and trauma can change people most unexpectedly.

Regardless, some people can ride out the storm and repurpose their sorrow, encouraging others to see the silver lining in an otherwise dark cloud. Today’s story is about an exceptionally courageous child, and we hope it will help serve as a beacon of hope and light for people who are going through challenging times. Kyleigh Brunette, 8, lives in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and is not your average youngster.

She loves playing sports and spending time with her siblings and family. The little girl comes off as a lively person and a total sweetheart. Her conversation with her mother encouraged little Kyleigh to do something special for her dad’s birthday on July 9. However, many people might not know that behind her warm smile is the pain she’s been hiding since late 2019.

Kyleigh was incredibly close to her dad, Jordon Wakefield, who was her partner in disc golf and video games. The daddy-daughter duo loved spending time together and taking long walks to the park. About her father, Kyleigh expressed: “He was funny and loving and caring for me and he would never, ever yell at me.”In November 2019, Kyleigh’s world came to a halt when her beloved dad died by suicide.

But because she was very young then, her mother, Brittany Brunette-Thimmesch, didn’t share the details of what happened. She thought it best to wait for the right time. Brittany shared: “We didn’t want her to start having those feelings of guilt. So we waited, but we didn’t want to wait too long because we didn’t want her to hear it from someone else.”In November 2019, Kyleigh’s world came to a halt when her beloved dad died by suicide.

But because she was very young then, her mother, Brittany Brunette-Thimmesch, didn’t share the details of what happened. She thought it best to wait for the right time. Brittany shared: “We didn’t want her to start having those feelings of guilt. So we waited, but we didn’t want to wait too long because we didn’t want her to hear it from someone else.

“Brittany, 30, and a sub-secretary for the Sheboygan Area School District, explained that her little girl’s therapist also suggested she talk to Kyleigh and tell her everything before she heard it from someone else. She was only six years old when she lost her dad, and the heart-wrenching tragedy turned her life upside down. Finally, in 2022, Kyleigh told her mom she wished to know how her father died, and Brittany said she could see how badly her daughter needed closure.

Eventually, the Wisconsin woman sat down with her daughter and told her about her father’s death. Kyleigh was encouraged by her mother’s conversation to do something special for her father’s birthday on July 9. To honor her father, the child set up a lemonade stand and sold lemonades on July 1 and 8. Brittany revealed that her daughter raised $800 to raise awareness about mental health. Kyleigh responded when asked why she came up with such an idea:

“We wanted to raise money in memory of my father so that no other child would have to go through the ordeal of losing a parent.” But that wasn’t the only thing. Kyleigh decided to donate the entire amount to a worthy cause and drove to Mental Health America in Sheboygan with the donation money. The youngster stated that she enjoyed assisting others and being kind to them, and her generous act demonstrated this.

Meanwhile, Brittany was overcome with emotion and expressed her pride in her daughter for using her painful experience to be a ray of sunshine for others. Without a doubt, it must have taken tremendous strength and courage for little Kyleigh to see beyond her pain and support others in similar situations. Sheboygan’s daughter said she thought about her father every day and couldn’t wait to see him again.

Brittany explained that her daughter’s generous act was intended to assist people who couldn’t afford to seek professional help, ensuring that no one had to go through an unusual experience. Furthermore, the little girl did not want any other child to have to deal with the grief of losing a loving parent. Kyleigh was overjoyed with the overwhelming response to her lemonade stand and said she planned to do it again next year.

What a brave, kind, and generous young lady she is! What do you think about this story? Do you think it’s important to do good deeds and help our friends, family, and even strangers in times of need? Please leave your thoughts on Facebook.