In Loving Memory of... Brittany Starks- Oswell
The 7th Annual BSO Foundation Nursing Memorial Scholarship Brunch
Saturday, April 20,2024
Dr Angela Dykes, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
Call 803-567-2550
Join Us
Help Our Cause
Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goal of awarding several deserving nursing students the opportunity to become a BSO Scholarship Recipient!
About Brittany
Romans 8:28
June 4, 1990- April 18, 2016
This website and Foundation was created in Memory of our beautiful inside and out beloved daughter Brittany, (as a little girl she was affectionately known as Britt Britt by family).
God blessed us with Brittany as she was the 1st born of our two daughters, she entered this world on June 4, 1990 at 6:48 p.m. she was the most beautiful baby to her father Chris and I. Brittany changed our lives in a instant, taking us from being a newly in love married couple to parents in the first year of our marriage...wow, we have a child to love, protect, raise and educate.
Brittany was a "Hugo" baby...most South Carolinian who was born and raised here knows what this means.
Brittany had a wonderful disposition even as a baby and young child this character trait grew into her being a happy, cheerful, friendly, respectful and loving young woman who welcomed all she met with a smile. Her Dad and I recall one of Brittany's elementary school teacher stating that she was a social butterfly, constantly chatting with the other students during class.
Brittany became head strong in her teenage years as most teens do, once she set her mind on something, there was no changing it and as parents you can imagine this can be very frustrating and yet this can also be a blessing in disguise, as it can serve your child well when it comes to achieving their goals and dreams in life.
Brittany knew at a young age that she wanted to be a nurse and she had a great affection for working with the elderly community as well as future plans of working with infants and young children once she furthered her education in the nursing arena.
Brittany started her college education at Lander University and later received her degree from ECPI University. Brittany became license as a LPN in 2014 and prior to Brittany's completion of her first tier of nursing, she worked a full time job at a medical rehabilitation center and a assisted living facility as a CNA and later as Med Tech, she mainly worked 2nd and 3rd shift while attending college full time during the day. Our daughter traveled nearly 2 hrs one way every weekday to get to school and back home. We loved Brittany's relentless effort as she had her sights set on becoming a nurse.
Brittany had a great childhood friend (Lenny) who lived in the same city as Brittany's University and she allowed Brittany to stay over whenever Brittany wasn't scheduled to work. We are forever GRATEFUL to her loyal friendship to our daughter ( during her life and after her passing) and to us.
Brittany married Cory just prior to graduating from college. Cory was serving in the United States Army at that time and while still actively serving in the military, Cory chose Hawaii as his next tour of duty station, he stated since they did not get to go on a honeymoon, he wanted to choose a beautiful place for Brittany. On June 5, 2015, our daughter and son-in-law boarded their flight to Hawaii. One day prior to their departure we through a farewell party for them given on Brittany's 24th birthday which of course we celebrated. Brittany was both very excited to start their new life in one of the most beautifully sought after vacation destination in the world and yet she was also sad to leave her one and only younger sister/ 1st best friend forever, Kristen along with leaving mom, dad, mom's cooking...(when I cooked), her dog she shared with Kristen, cousins, aunts, uncles, extended family, friends and co-workers. Every thing she has always known will be thousands of miles away. This was an opportunity for them to start their lives together on their own as a newly in love married couple looking to have a bright future. Brittany wasn't afraid to challenge herself in that way and once again she changed our lives again because of her quest to live her dreams.
Four months later in October of 2015, my husband and I flew to Hawaii to spend a week with our daughter and son-in-law, we were so excited to visit with them and to see their progress. We couldn't have known that October 30,2015 would be the last embrace and the last time we would see our 1st born daughter alive, healthy and happy.
Brittany and Cory's had lived in Hawaii for almost one year when we found out in February that they would be returning home to us in mid April of 2016.
Chris, Kristen and I decided to keep Brittany's and Cory's arrival a secret. We were so excited about seeing Brittany and Cory again as they would be home for good! Cory's active military career was coming to an end and we had it all planned out as to how we would surprise the rest of our family and friends with their physical presence.
Their flight was due home on April 15, 2016 but instead of us picking them up from our local airport.... we (Chris, Kristen and I ) had to suddenly and unexpectedly fly to Texas where their flight was schedule to connect before landing at our local airport.
We received a call from Cory informing us Brittany got very ill during the flight causing her to lose consciousness and to our unimaginable devastation, Brittany never regained consciousness after spending a few days in a Texas hospital in ICU. During this time our immediate family members and three very close family friends flew to Texas and stayed with us to lend their prayer and support which provided us with some comfort. I as her mother remember speaking to Brittany by phone once she boarded the plane with Cory in Hawaii, she was in great spirits, very excited to be returning home. I still can't believe that conversation would become the last time I will ever hear my Brittany's voice again at the other end of my phone.
With immense pain our family laid our beautiful daughter and Cory's wife to rest on April 25, 2016. Our lives instantly changed again by Brittany's sudden passing on April 18, 2016 at 4:14 a.m. Our Brittany was just 25 years young when she transitioned to heaven. Our faith and trust in Jesus during our weakest times produces perfection in His power, this gives us the grace and inner strength to pick up Brittany's baton as we symbolically pass it on through each awarded scholarship for years to come.
Our tremendous adversity couple with our eternal love and respect for what our sweet daughter was able to accomplish while she was alive. Brittany's ultimate nursing goal would have been to become a Nurse Practitioner and Knowing she will never fulfill that goal.....we are compelled to answer this call to fulfill our purpose behind our pain.
One more thing about Brittany, she gave until the very end, how you may ask? Brittany was a organ donor and because we honored her last wishes, there are a few people whose lives were saved or enhanced because of her generosity and love for people.
We THANK YOU for partnering with us as we endeavor to add more compassionate, loving and caring nurses to our Hospitals, Doctor's office, Nursing Homes, Assisted Living, Schools, Rehabilitation Centers and Churches etc. Brittany Starks Oswell , our !st born and Favorite Nurse, we will forever LOVE YOU and we will continue to share your dream of helping others through nursing. We Thank God For Your Legacy ....Still.
1Cor 15:55,57
...Victory Belongs To Jesus!
Photo Gallery of Brittany With Family & Friends
About Our Foundation
Our Vision for Helping
We are a nonprofit organization focused on helping today's nursing student become our compassionate nurses of tomorrow.
Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals of providing scholarship opportunities for our future Nurses and Doctor of NURSING. Your Generous Donations through ticket purchase will fund our mission.
We will be awarding several scholarships to hard working relentless students who are call to serve others through the nursing community.
Get Involved
Are you passionate about what we're doing? Let us know! We are always looking for volunteers to help us make our vision a reality. We'll help you find a way to volunteer that best suits you. We're excited to have you join the team in your efforts or by making a donation.
SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2024..Thank A NURSE
Whether you help through monetary donations, volunteering your time, or spreading our mission through word-of-mouth, thank you. We couldn't achieve our goals without the help of supporters like you!
BSO TICKET INTFORMAION
Additional Information
DONATION AMOUNTS:
GENERAL ADMISSION: $25 CNA: $50 LPN, $75 RN, $150-DNP
SPONSORSHIP LEVELS: $250,$500, $1000, $1500, $2000, $2500 and Up
YOUR DONATION IS YOUR ENTRY TICKET
We have a GOAL to raise $25k. The number 25 has a significant meaning to our family and foundation as Brittany was 25 when she suddenly transitioned to heaven in April of 2016. We are very appreciative to receive any donation amount given to helps us reach our current annual goal.
Your generous giving will help our mission to provide scholarship assistance towards the education of deserving, diligent, relentless individuals reach their goal of becoming a compassionate CNA, LPN, RN, DNP.
Together, we can make a difference today in the lives of our future nurses who may one day make a difference in your life or your family. For large donations, please call the foundation. 803-567-2550 OR 803-360-0043
THE PREFERRED DONATION METHODS ARE: Credit/Debit, Certified Checks and Money Orders. Cash is accepted.
There Will Be A 2.9% Plus $0.30 Per Transaction Fee For Credit Cards. For Any donation amount please Make Checks Payable To: Brittany Starks Oswell Foundation or BSO Foundation, Inc .
WE ARE A NONPROFIT 501(c)3 ORGANIZATION
ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIABLE
God Bless YOU & THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
