Building leaders recipient (9.18.13):
dan brunk, potterville cross country
Tragedy has struck Potterville Public Schools teacher Dan Brunk on numerous occasions, but he continues to overcome obstacles and help his students and community.
Brunk, a veteran fifth-grade teacher and high school cross country coach, lost his daughter, Ally, to mitochondrial disease in 2003. She was only 4 years old.
When Ally passed away, Brunk's wife, Julie, a teacher at Grand Ledge High School, was six months' pregnant with their son, Carson. Tensions were high during her pregnancy, as the disease that claimed Ally's life is genetic.
Carson was born without mitochondrial disease - but he was diagnosed with WILM's tumor just a few months into his life. The disease is a cancer of the kidneys that generally affects young children.
"Lots of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments kept us wondering if we would lose yet another of our dear children," Brunk said.
Along the way, three Potterville students close to Brunk died - the latest being 20-year-old Kyle Lamb, a 2011 Potterville High School graduate who died in March while vacationing in Florida.
Brunk, a veteran fifth-grade teacher and high school cross country coach, lost his daughter, Ally, to mitochondrial disease in 2003. She was only 4 years old.
When Ally passed away, Brunk's wife, Julie, a teacher at Grand Ledge High School, was six months' pregnant with their son, Carson. Tensions were high during her pregnancy, as the disease that claimed Ally's life is genetic.
Carson was born without mitochondrial disease - but he was diagnosed with WILM's tumor just a few months into his life. The disease is a cancer of the kidneys that generally affects young children.
"Lots of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments kept us wondering if we would lose yet another of our dear children," Brunk said.
Along the way, three Potterville students close to Brunk died - the latest being 20-year-old Kyle Lamb, a 2011 Potterville High School graduate who died in March while vacationing in Florida.
