Teenage Girl Reveals Mother's Suicide In Heartbreaking 'Life Gets Better' Video


Posted on Nov 10, 2011 @ 10:00PM  

By Amber Goodhand - Radar Reporter

It’s a video that will give you goosebumps.

Michigan native Kaitlin Brand, 16, lost her mother to suicide on October 5, 2011 and not even three weeks later she created a heartbreaking and touching video that you can watch on RadarOnline.com.

Using pieces of paper that she’s written messages on, Kaitlin delivers them one by one while The Band Perry’s hit song "If I Die Young" plays in the background.

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“I’m in 10th grade and have amazing friends,” she holds up on one card.

“I love them. They’ve helped me through a lot. If you were to ask someone about me... They’d probably tell you, ‘She’s one of the strongest girls I know.’”

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The self-effacing teen refuses to accept she is strong though, insisting instead that people that are battling cancer and fighting wars are the “strong” ones.

And, what you’re not expecting, is for Kaitlin to reveal that her friends think she’s strong because she found her own mother hanging in the woods.

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“On October 5th, 2011, my mom died. I found her in my woods, hanging,” she said.

“She committed suicide.”

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So, how does Kaitlin manage to smile still when she’s experienced such a tragedy?

She kisses a photo of her mother and then gives the message: “You’re probably wondering why I’m smiling instead of crying.

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“It’s because my mom would want me to be HAPPY. She loved seeing me smile.”

Far beyond her 15 years, (she turned sixteen shortly after the video was made) Kaitlin acknowledges that while she misses her beautiful mother, “She’s in a better place now, and I have the best guardian angel ever.”

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And Kaitlin makes her message clear at the end.

“If you are having suicidal thoughts, or know someone who is, GET HELP,” she emplores.

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“For me. And my mom. Life gets better. I promise.”

If you or someone you know is in an emotional distress or suicidal crisis, please call the Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

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Kaitlin~ Yes you are STRONG! Beautiful message for ppl to get help. I watched my mom try to commit suicide when I was 7 by cutting her throat. You reached out to ppl and I am reaching out to you. If you need to talk..I'm here too!

by shiloh13
Posted Sun, 11/13/2011 - 2:23pm

cacapoopoo u r so negative! Peope who commit suicide are in a lot of pain, they dont want to be depressed. Thats another reason i HATE religion. Lack of understanding and empathy its so midevil

by jrenee
Posted Sat, 11/12/2011 - 12:04pm

Great message; good for her! Thank you!

by Pompano Ann
Posted Fri, 11/11/2011 - 12:33pm

I wish this young girl the best that life has to offer. I hope she stays strong and makes her Mom proud of her.

by Muppet
Posted Fri, 11/11/2011 - 12:27pm

This made me cry this morning. I always wanted a daughter and this mother took her life and left her precious daughter behind to deal with this. It just truly breaks my heart. How could she leave such a beautiful girl behind?

by Muppet
Posted Fri, 11/11/2011 - 12:26pm

Wait.. don't Christians believe that you go to hell if you commit suicide? Is her Mom really in a better place then?
Oh wait.. they're from Michigan. Yeah.. I guess hell would be better than that dump.

by CacaPooPoo
Posted Fri, 11/11/2011 - 5:14am

People who say/mean the things you just wrote are the reason some people do what her mother did! Maybe you don't know what it's like to survive a loved ones suicide, if you did you wouldn't have written that I think!

by Pimpcessa
Posted Fri, 11/11/2011 - 1:20pm

Can't bring myself to watch the video, God bless her, this is a horrible thing to endure and the trauma will unfortunately scar her for life. What is this messed up world we are living in?

by annoyed12345
Posted Fri, 11/11/2011 - 2:34am

Suicide is a PERMANENT solution to a TEMPORARY problem...vid didnt work

by FUrol
Posted Fri, 11/11/2011 - 2:15am

depression is temporary.. being sad cuz a bf dumped you is temporary.. you can't get rid of depression ever though sadly

by pooky
Posted Fri, 11/11/2011 - 7:25am

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