Micaela's Story

Micaela Brunson was a vibrant, kind-hearted sixteen-year-old whose presence lit up every room. Her bright smile and goofy sense of humor put everyone at ease. With a magnetic personality and a gift for small acts of kindness, Micaela made a lasting impact. She had a unique ability to make everyone feel welcome, bringing laughter to even the most ordinary moments with her love for corny jokes.

As one of five children, she held a special place in the Brunson family, especially as her daddy’s girl. Her mom, Alma, used to say she’d tucked a little crown into Micaela’s head, and her father treated her like the princess she was. That love and confidence shone brightly in everything she did.

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Micaela had a soft spot for holidays, especially Christmas and Halloween. She bought her own Christmas tree for her bedroom and kept it up well past December, decorating it for each new month.

One time, she invited her mom out for ice cream—her treat. Alma was touched by the gesture, only to find out when they got there that it was Free Cone Day at Dairy Queen. It was classic Micaela: sweet, thoughtful, and full of surprises.

She was always thinking of others. It wasn’t uncommon to find an extra jar of peanut butter or other snacks tucked into her backpack for classmates who might not have enough to eat. Micaela had a heart as big as her smile, constantly looking out for those around her, especially at school. Generous, funny, and full of love in every sense—that was simply who she was.

But despite the joy and light she shared with everyone, there was a side of Micaela that remained hidden—a silent struggle she kept to herself.

On November 14th, 2016, Micaela took her own life.

There were no signs that she was battling depression. To those who knew her, she appeared happy, friendly, and full of life. Her passing was an unimaginable shock, leaving a deep, unfillable ache in the hearts of all who loved her.

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The community rallied around Micaela’s family, offering love, support, and strength as they mourned the unimaginable. In the face of such profound loss, the outpouring of care reminded them that they were not alone—and that Micaela’s light, though gone too soon, had touched far more people than she ever realized.

The day after Micaela’s passing, more than 700 local students gathered for a candlelight service in her memory. It was a powerful, emotional tribute to a young life that had touched so many. Friends and classmates wrote heartfelt notes to her family, shared stories, and stood side by side in grief and remembrance.

One theme echoed throughout the evening: Micaela’s kindness. Again and again, people spoke of the way she made others feel seen, welcomed, and cared for. Whether through a warm smile, a kind word, or a small act of generosity, Micaela left a lasting impression on everyone she met. Even in loss, her compassion continued to shine through the voices and hearts of those who loved her.

When Micaela had turned sixteen and received her driver’s license, she checked the box to become an organ donor—one more act of compassion that reflected the way she lived her life. Her parents honored that decision, and through organ and tissue donation, Micaela saved the lives of 24 people.

Her heart valves went to a young girl in Texas—a gift made even more meaningful knowing how much Micaela loved children. Her skin helped several women recovering from mastectomies, offering healing and hope during incredibly difficult journeys. For an older man who had been unable to walk due to spinal issues, Micaela’s donated tissue restored his mobility. These are just a few of the lives she touched. Even in death, her kindness continued to ripple out, reaching people she never met and making a lasting difference in ways she could never have imagined.

Micaela's life, though brief, was full of joy, compassion, and a radiant light that left an unforgettable mark on everyone lucky enough to know her.

“I was blessed to be Micaela’s dad and be able to spend nearly 17 years with her. So as I’ve attempted to come up with a favorite memory and favorite photo, I realized it’s all of them. All my memories with her and each and every photo. I cherish hearing and seeing new ones from her siblings and friends. Micaela, because of her loving and giving spirit, continues to make me a better, more thankful father. It is my desire that Micaela’s Hope is a reflection of who she was and how she lived. It’s a way to help others, to make others know they were created and will always be loved by an incredible Heavenly Father! When I’m asked, “How do you cope with your loss?” I only have one answer: faith. That’s where I find joy and hope. She isn’t lost. I know exactly where she is.” -Brian Brunson

“Micaela was unpacking her car after school one day, and I noticed she brought out a bowl with dried up batter and a griddle. I’m trying to figure out what she took that to school for and asked her, ‘What class was this for?’ Micaela said, ‘Well, I made pancakes in the hallway and handed them out to the kids.’ You see, it was finals week, and the kids were tired, overcaffeinated, hungry, and very stressed. So in typical Micaela fashion, she wanted to do something to make them feel better. She literally plugged in the griddle on the wall and just started making pancakes and handing them out to kids. We thought making pancakes at her annual blood drive was a beautiful way to continue her wonderful acts of kindness. Making the pancakes at these drives makes me feel like Micaela is with us, because she would have loved it. What a great way to keep that going. It makes my heart smile when the Impact [Life] folks are like, ‘The pancake family’s here!’ We’re known as the pancakes family. That’s Micaela.” -Alma Brunson

“Micaela Brunson was a young woman who lived fully and joyfully. As a high schooler she was involved in a little bit of everything, from sports to vocal performance. Of all her siblings, she truly had the most beautiful singing voice. She babysat for families who cherished her sweetness with their children. She was constantly making memories with her friends and siblings through fast food stops and time spent in whatever activity she was volunteering for. To look into her eyes as she smiled was to always see a twinkle of playfulness. She had a gift of bringing out a smile in everyone. Perhaps her most lasting legacy will be that of her generosity with anyone she met.” -Danielle (Brunson) Marcoux

“One of my favorite memories of Micaela is sitting downstairs together getting cozy on the couch, with whatever snacks we were feeling that night (usually popcorn and M&Ms), and putting Bride Wars in the DVD player. I swear, we probably put scratches on that DVD with how much we watched it. She was an amazing big sister, only wish I could have grown up with her a little bit longer.” -Rebekah Brunson

“One of my favorite memories with Micaela is from when we were around 10 years old. We watched the movie Soul Surfer for the first time and decided to spend the rest of the day using only one arm to see if we could do the tasks Bethany Hamilton learned to do with only one arm. Long story short, we could not, and ended up giving up after spilling chocolate chips all over when making a snack, but we had a lot of laughs along the way.” -Becca Hoag

“As there are not enough words to describe all of my favorite memories about Mic, the one that comes to mind most is our “rain dance.” It was the night before the middle school state track meet in Des Moines. It started to pour down rain, and instead of staying inside, Micaela had the beautiful idea to go outside and create a rain dance. We blared music and even created a music video. I think about that memory every time it rains, and I pray Mic is doing a little rain dance in heaven with me.” -Morgan (Hogenson) Plunkett

“My most fun memory with Micaela was before a show choir rehearsal and we went to grab breakfast at a local dinner with some of the other girls. We had a great time chatting and eating before we had to go. What made it even better was when we left, Micaela ran out the door with open arms, almost like she was giving the world a hug, and screamed, “alright girls, let’s take over the world with dance!” We all just cracked up laughing on the way back to the school. She always had a way of making the littlest things just so amazing. -Geena (Littrel) Robbins