We were lucky to catch up with Brenden Butler recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Brenden, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
Before diving into what I undoubtedly believe is my purpose in the life, it is important to understand that without my faith, I never would have been able to see so clearly what I do now. My purpose is to serve those who have been in similar life changing situations in which I have faced. In order to understand exactly who I am, we have to look into what have become my most drastic life-changing interventions. When I was young, I was a very happy motivated kid. However around 12 or 13 years old I started to deal with pretty intense depression and anxiety with really little to no idea of how it entered my life. I felt very alone and for some reason felt like I was the only one going through anything like that. However that was the furthest from the truth because shortly after a close friend of mine stated briefly that she had felt those things before, she decided to take her own life. At that time, suicide was always on the table for me, but after seeing how devastated her family was, I knew that I could not succumb to the thoughts inside my head. It didn’t end for me there though. I battled my inner dialogue and carried that guilt with me for years after that. I struggled in school, my home life wasn’t the best and I put a burden on the people closest to me. As a approached my senior year of high school I started to feel a little better about myself and things started to turn around. Of course, life has a pretty funny was of throwing you curveballs when you least expect. About two weeks into the second semester of my senior year, I was diagnosed with a rare form of pediatric bone cancer called Ewing’s Sarcoma. I had a tumor about the size of a walnut in my left foot that was found when a doctor was trying to remove it after misdiagnosing it as a benign cyst. Well it was the furthest thing from benign and because of how aggressive it is, I started chemotherapy just days later. That was the start of a long 10 months of cancer treatment in which I had made the decision to amputate my leg below the knee in order for the best chance of long term survival. After I finished treatment and I was declared cancer free, I thought my purpose was to build prosthetics, so I chose to go to school to do that. Just about two years into school, I was struggling with vices and depression and decided to call it quits and move back home. I was blessed with the opportunity to go through a Redefine program and Adaptive Training Foundation and the program really helped me dig deep and figure out who I am. I took some time but I soon realized that in my pursuit of Paralympic track and field, I also wanted to start my own non profit so I could pour into the people who have gone similar experiences. My non profit allows me to go to hospitals and support children and families going through cancer treatment as well as provide funding for adaptive athletes to compete in sport, just like I do. In addition, we focus on the mental health of the individuals and we hope to provide cost free resources for those we need it. As we continue to build and help more people, I hope to use my platform through athletics to benefit those who need my help the most.
Contact Info:
- Website: brendenbutlerfamilyfoundation.com
- Instagram: brendenbutler21 and brendenbutlerfamilyfoundation
- Facebook: brendenbutlerfamilyfoundation
- Youtube: brendenbutler1619
- Other: TikTok: brendenbutler
