Christmas 2016 was going to be “the best ever” for Brandon Forseth and Kylee Bruce, a twenty-something couple from Oregon.
Brandon and Kylee were getting their house ready for the holidays. The presents were wrapped, the Christmas tree was lit and the holiday spirit was in the air.
But on December 20, 2016 — just five days before Christmas — Kylee was killed in a car crash on Highway 97 while driving alone to Bend, Oregon. She was just 24 years old.
There was a particular reason why this Christmas was particularly special for Brandon and Kylee.
You see, Kylee was 18 weeks pregnant at the time of her death. They were keeping the pregnancy a secret for two more weeks, then planned to share a funny announcement video with their loved ones.
Brandon woke up the day after Kylee’s death and took to Facebook with a heartbreaking post.
The grieving young man revealed the secret he and Kylee couldn’t wait to share together — and how their dreams were destroyed on that fateful, tragic night.
On December 21, 2016, Brandon Forseth of Bend, Oregon shared this gut-wrenching post on his Facebook page.
“You made me promise not to announce our baby to the world until 20 weeks when we found out the sex.
We were going to make a funny announcement video and share it with everyone.
You were 18 weeks pregnant with my first child, and I lost you both last night.”
“Even though I hadn’t met my baby, the amount of love and excitement I had in my heart was unlike anything I’d ever felt. Listening to its heartbeat for the first time on the ultrasound, staring at the the ultrasound pictures on my fridge in awe of the little life growing inside of you.
I couldn’t wait to be a father and I felt so blessed everyday that it would grow up with you as its mother.
I couldn’t help it and told multiple family members and close friends and you’d always say, ‘Brandon! you can never keep a secret!’ and I’d just smile and say, I’m sorry, I’m just too excited.”
“You would have been the best mom Ky. You made me so happy, you were my future.. everything I did, as hard as I’ve worked, every decision I made had you and your happiness in mind.
I’m sorry I’m breaking my promise right now and telling everyone a couple weeks early, but I was so proud of you, and I want everyone to know how committed you were to this child, how health conscious you were, how you would go online each week and tell me things like, ‘Our baby is the size of grapefruit right now,’ or ‘Did you know our baby has already started to develop eyelids?!’
I could feel the warmth and purpose our child gave you, and I knew I needed to be the best man I could possibly be for both of you, to keep you comfortable and safe.
I couldn’t keep you safe last night.”
“I should have went with you to Bend like you asked.. I shouldn’t have been too tired, and maybe things would have worked out differently. What a twisted, cruel world we live in that decides to take a clean, beautiful, innocent soul like yours away, instead of mine. I’d switch places with you in a second.
I promise to keep being the man you fell for, I promise to do something great with this life I have left, I promise to make you proud of me, I promise to never take anything for granted again, and I promise to say I love you to those I care about early and often.
I wish I would have said it to you last night before you left, but in my heart, I know that you knew.”
“This Christmas was going to be the best ever. I’m currently staring at my first Christmas Tree I’ve had in my home in years, a tree that you and I found and cut down together.
The base of the tree is filled with presents to me, from you. Beautifully wrapped and neatly stacked. There’s none under there to you because I haven’t wrapped them yet..procrastinating like always..but I want you to know that I got you a bunch of things you would have loved Ky.
I know you yell at me for trying to get you to open your gifts early because I’m so bad at keeping secrets, but I want you to know a lil early this year.”
“A vanity, so you finally would have a place to do your makeup instead of sharing the tiny little bathroom mirror with me in the morning, multiple books because you love to read, a soup thermos so you could pack hot lunches to your brand new pre-school teaching job in Bend that you were so excited about, that beanie from Eddie Bauer that matched your scarf perfectly, your own set of camo clothing so you could hunt with me next year and not have to borrow my xlarge coat, fuzzy socks and sweaters to keep you warm….
I can still wrap them if you want ky. You’d only lived with me for a short time, but my house was so full with your energy and warmth, it smells like your scentsies, my closet is filled with your clothes, your coat is hanging by the front door, and your snowboots are on the mat right where you left them before you left last night, but it feels so empty in here right now.
I miss you so much Ky. I’ve always been able to fix things and solve problems for people, but I don’t know what to do from here.”
“I feel helpless. I’m still waiting for you to walk in the door. I love you so very much Kylee, I know you’ll be the best Mom in heaven to our little one when he/she is born in June. I wish I could see its little face just one time.
I know it would have been beautiful just like its mother. Merry Christmas sugar, I promise not to open my gifts until Christmas morning.
Rest in Peace Kylee Bruce
Rest in Peace Braylee or Talon, daddy loves you so so very much.”
If you would like to help Kylee’s family with her memorial expenses, please visit their GoFundMe page.
We cannot imagine what Brandon and the rest of his family are going through. Please SHARE Kylee’s story with your friends on Facebook.
