Brandon Douglas Roberts

Brandon Douglas Roberts was born on April 23, 1985 in San Diego, California. His family moved to Washington when he was 9 months old, and for the remainder of his life he grew up in the Kenmore, Washington area. Brandon passed away on April 26, 2022, at the age of 37.

Because caring about and helping others was always important to Brandon, and because he almost always chose to tell it like it is, his family believes he would want us to speak the truth about his life and death in the hope that honesty might help fight the stigma that surrounds the disease of addiction. If his story can help even one struggling person to choose recovery or to push for one more day of sobriety, he would want it told. This epidemic is devastating families and taking our loved ones in massive numbers. If we aren’t up front about how many of our loved ones -- mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, and friends -- are suffering and dying from the disease of addiction, there will never be any change in the stigma and systems that make it so hard for those with substance use disorder to get help.

Brandon started life with some inconspicuous mental health issues and began struggling with addiction at a young age. Some knew Brandon only through the lens of the disease of addiction, but that wasn’t the real Brandon. Those who truly knew him, knew a Brandon that was smart, caring, selfless, fearless, fiercely loyal to family and friends, social, open-minded, and had an engaging sense of humor. He could and would strike up a conversation with anyone about anything – one of the many admirable things about him. Growing up he loved sports, his favorite being baseball. A natural athlete, he excelled at any position, including pitching; but he was a favorite for third base because of his fast, powerful, accurate throw to first base. He loved music of all genres, enjoyed writing lyrics and poetry, and was a voracious reader, leaving behind boxes of books that were some of his most prized possessions. Brandon will always be remembered for his easy, infectious smile, his captivating blue eyes, and his good looks, but especially for his kind and caring heart. He always looked for ways to help others and would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need. He also had a special place in his heart for those with challenges and got himself into trouble more than once for standing up to bullies he saw picking on the vulnerable. And finally . . . his strength. His strength will always be remembered. Despite his trials and struggles, Brandon never gave up. He kept getting back up and trying again and again. Anyone who has suffered with addiction or experienced addiction in a loved one knows or has witnessed the pure strength and sheer tenacity it takes to fight battles every single day inside your mind. It's an exhausting, mental, emotional, and physical battle that takes courage, determination and a very strong will.

Recently, Brandon had been drug-free for an extended period and was optimistic about a new start. In the last month of his life, he was determined. He had gotten a job, a bank account, his driver’s license, a car and insurance, a phone, and was looking into an electrician course at a local college. Most important of all to him, he was spending time with his daughter and looking forward to being the dad he longed to be. But the chains that bound him were relentless and on April 21, 2022, Brandon smoked heroin that, unbeknownst to him, was laced with fentanyl. With no tolerance, and the deadly strength of fentanyl, his breathing and his heart stopped. Paramedics were able to restart his heart, but he had been without oxygen for too long and he never regained consciousness. He was declared legally-dead on April 26, 2022.

Every driver’s license Brandon owned displayed a heart letting it be known that he wanted to be an organ donor. On April 28, 2022, his liver, his kidneys, and his heart were gifted to improve the quality of life of four others. In this way, and others, Brandon left this life a hero and lives on.

Brandon and his family fought a long, hard war against the beast of addiction. Through the battles and the end of Brandon’s earthly life, we’ve learned compassion and to love better. We take comfort in knowing he is no longer suffering and is now surrounded by love and light. We will love and miss you always and forever, B.

Brandon was immensely loved by a large extended family and many friends and will be forever missed. He is survived by his 9-year-old daughter, Peyton Matthies, his mother, Kristie Hanson, his step-father, Steven Hanson, his sisters, Jennifer Brookes and Amber Gustafson, his twin brother, Matthew Roberts, his grandparents, Dale and Vivian Thibault, and by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Douglas Roberts.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to any of the following in Brandon’s name:

Not One More

http://www.notonemoreseattle.org/donate.html

Battlefield Addiction

https://www.battlefieldaddiction.com/donate/

or any US Bank