This memorial website was created in the memory of our son, Braeden Lee Mahlke, who was born in Wisconsin on June 06, 2003 and passed away on May 19, 2006 at the age of 2 from surgical complications. He will live forever in our hearts. 
       
Braeden was a happy, content kid, who loved anything to do with music, from his toys that would play songs, to the music on the radio, and even the sound of his own voice singing. He loved toys that played music and had lights, and would generally have at least 2 or 3 toys going at the same time. Sometimes, he would have one in each hand and be playing yet another with his feet; other times he would start one toy going, then bounce across the room to start another toy and keep them all going, even singing along with his happy songs to add to the music. Playing with drumsticks was also a lot of fun, but Brae’s poor dog, Jasper, would disagree, since he was what Braeden used most often as a drum.  
    
He was affectionate and gave the very best hugs, cuddles, and snuggles ever.  He loved to be tickled and would giggle wholeheartedly.  He had a special game he would play with Grandpa, where Brae would turn into a big noodle.  He liked to crawl through his toy tunnel and peek under his toy tent.  He had a curiousity about how things worked, and enjoyed making things go- toys, rocking chairs, bouncing on his trampoline, how doors opened and closed, how water splashed in the tub.  
     
Brae liked to play in the sand, in the snow, and in the bathtub; anything that he could dig his fingers and toes into. He loved making pictures for his mom and dad and other family members, sometimes using finger paints, sometimes crayons or markers, but whatever he used, he had a much better time coloring his arms and hands than he did coloring the paper. 
   
Brae liked to watch his special penguin video and the Koala Brothers on TV.  He liked to play along with rhyming songs, especially the Tigger song we would sing when he would bounce on his trampoline, and the song we would do when we did massage for occupational therapy.  He liked to be read to sometimes but really liked books that had buttons to push that would make noise.  
    
Braeden loved to be a big helper any way he could. He liked to go shopping with mom and Grammy, and would take things off the shelves at the store, try to push buttons on the credit card payment thing, make sure the door and the cupboards were closed, and unroll, then re-roll the toilet paper back up again. Buddy, the stillness here without you is so very loud, and we miss you so very much!
    
Brae loved the outdoors and going for walks either in his stroller or with his walker, playing on his swing, his jumpolene, and most recently, his riding toys. He would sit on them and push himself up and down the sidewalk and around the yard. He didn’t like it too much when Mom and Dad decided it would be best to wear a helmet when riding though. 
    
We are so very proud of everything Braeden accomplished in his lifetime. He was enrolled in the Birth to Three program at age one, and since then learned to sit up, to crawl, to stand, and his most favorite, to tall knee-walk. He could do that as fast as we could chase him. He also learned to climb on furniture and onto his trampoline, then bounce on it. Braeden could walk with a walker and even learned to take a few steps on his own, without it. He learned to do signs for "all done" and "bath" and was working on many more.    
    
Family Resources  has devoted a section of their lending library in memory of Braeden. It is called "Braeden’s Library" and features pictures of Braeden, as well as books and toys for and about children with any sort of special needs.  It is available for any interested parents and kids in our area. We are so very proud of the library, and so thankful for the staff at Family Resources who came up with this wonderful idea and made it happen.   And we would like to say thank you to all of the people who have and continue to donate to the library to keep it updated in Braeden's memory.  Read more about Braeden's Library in the 'His Legacy' section of this website.   If you want to see or use the library, Family Resources is located at 1500 Green Bay Street in LaCrosse.  They are open Monday thru Thursday 8:30-5:00 and Fridays 8:30-3:00.  Their website is www.laxfamilyresources.org 


                          

                   "If love could have saved you, 
                    you would have lived forever." 
 
                                     

                           If I can stop one heart from breaking, 
                           I shall not live in vain; 
                           If I can ease one life the aching,
                           Or cool one pain,
                           Or help one fainting robin
                           Unto his nest again,
                           I shall not live in vain. 
                                          -EMILY DICKINSON 

            Link to Brae's page on the National Donor Memorial:
http://www.donormemorial.org/tributes/tribute_display.php?tribute_id=573   

           OPO donor tribute page:
           http://www.uwhealth.org/page.asp?contentid=11778 

           Braden's Block on the National Donor Quilt:  (Panel 32)
http://www.kidney.org/transplantation/donorFamilies/quiltPatchDisplay.cfm?square=BF0103 

"Then the child opened its eyes, and looked up into the angel's beautiful face, which beamed with happiness, and at the same moment they were in heaven, where joy and bliss reigned. The child received wings like the other angel, and they flew about together, hand in hand."
                                                            By Hans Christian Andersen