Eight-year-old Branson Whitaker inspires his community by collecting donations for Duke Children’s Hospital treasure box.
GREENSBORO, N.C. — When 8-year-old Branson Whitaker says, “I’ve got this, ’cause God’s got this,” it’s more than just a motto — it’s a reflection of his courage through a series of serious medical challenges.
Branson, from Ramseur, has undergone multiple heart surgeries, the most recent being his third open-heart operation at Duke University Children’s Hospital.
“He had to have a heart cath done and they put a stent in. Something went wrong, and he ended up needing another open-heart surgery. It was a really scary experience,” His mother, Leah Helton recalled.
But even during the most difficult times, there were small moments of joy. One of them came from the hospital’s “treasure box” — a collection of small toys that young patients can choose from as a reward for taking medicine, going on daily walks, and cooperating with doctors and nurses.
Branson proudly picked out two face masks — one orange and one pink — and beamed with excitement. But he also noticed something disheartening:
“I saw the treasure box all the way at the bottom with no toys,” Branson said.
That observation sparked an idea. Once Branson was discharged, he told his family he wanted to give back.
“Branson wanted to find a way to give back to the little kids who are still there. He wanted to make sure they had more options, especially since we learned the treasure box is filled strictly through donations,” said Leah.
His reason was simple and heartfelt:
“I just wanted to be nice, to give other people stuff.”
Since then, the Whitaker family has started collecting donations to restock the treasure box — and the response has been overwhelming. The community is already stepping up, inspired by Branson’s generosity.
“My hope is that it brightens other kids’ days, just like it did Branson’s,” Leah said.
Branson added, “Because you want everybody to be happy and not sad.”
As donations continue to pour in, Branson has a clear goal in mind.
“I’m hoping it’s all the way to the top — or in the middle,” he said with a smile.
If you’d like to help Branson with his mission, keep an eye out for ways to donate to the Duke Children’s treasure box — and help make hospital stays a little brighter for kids who need it most.
