Maggie O’Mara, KTVB 11:15 a.m. MDT August 6, 2015

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BOISE – Brandi Hosman of Buhl has overcome so much in her young life. She has survived two horrific car accidents, two comas, and she had to relearn everything after a severe brain injury.

This past spring, she was crowned 2015 Senior Miss at the Idaho Miss Amazing pageant. It’s a pageant that celebrates girls and women with disabilities. And last week, she competed in the national pageant in Los Angeles with the other title holders from Idaho.

The path to Los Angeles has been a long one for the 29-year-old, who was severely injured in a crash back in June 2002. She was just 16 years old and was behind the wheel.

“There was a truck pulling a horse trailer behind me and hit me,” she said. “My memory goes blank after that.”

It was a parent’s worst nightmare.

“We got a phone call,” recalled Brandi’s mom, Farah Hosman. “This friend said ‘it’s actually pretty bad, you need to come quick.'”

Brandi was airlifted to a Boise hospital.

“Her coma score was so low, they gave her a five-percent chance of survival,” said Farah, who refused to give up on her daughter. “Finally, I had to get the mother bear in me to come out. I just felt like I needed to treat her like she was going to live because nobody else was.”

With a lot of therapy and her family’s love, Brandi started coming back.

“I had a very good attitude I guess,” she said. “Because I knew early on that I would regain all of what I had lost. I had a lot of help from on high as well, you know? So I am so grateful.”

Kim Fields, KTVB 5:47 p.m. MST March 2, 2015
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BOISE — An exciting endeavor is happening at Boise State University. It is all about veterans and the university’s commitment to the men and women who serve our country.

We all know that Boise State is known for its football program, but did you know that Boise State has been named a “Military Friendly School” by GI Jobs Magazine for six straight years. Now the university is increasing its commitment to veterans.

With an official cut of the ribbon, Boise State University’s Veteran Services Center unveiled a new, on-campus Veterans Lounge — a special place for veterans and their families.

The Veterans Services Center has already been assisting the university’s veterans with various programs like benefit claims and opportunities in the community. Now the new veterans lounge will be a place for veterans on campus to simply hang out — with game tables, TV and a kitchen area.

Boise State leaders say the new space represents the university’s dedication to growing and supporting the educational endeavors of veterans.
“We’re very happy for this moment because it means that it’s a space for our veterans to socialize, but more importantly it’s a space for our veterans to form a greater community here at Boise State,” said Dr. Christian Wuthrich, Dean of Students.

“Our goal is to make sure that you find the success you need in that next stage of life and that you share with us all your experiences all the richness that you can bring to us because you make us better by your presence,” said Dr. Lisa Harris, Vice President of Student Affairs.

R.K. Williams, Coordinator of Veteran Services, and Dr. Harris had a little fun with today’s opening by playing the first game of pool on the new pool table.

Maggie O’Mara,

KTVB 12:59 p.m. MST January 28, 2015

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NAMPA — A 7-year-old Nampa boy is overcoming a debilitating disease to take on an inspiring journey as the new MDA State Ambassador. He has some big plans to make a difference in our state.

Jayden Long was diagnosed with mitochondrial myopathy – a form of muscular dystrophy – when he was just three.

It causes him to become easily fatigued, his lungs are weak, and he’s losing some muscle function. But that’s not holding him back.

The second-grader at Centennial Elementary School has been tapped to the be the 2015 state ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Association in Idaho. The night he was formally announced as ambassador was a special and emotional night for his family, especially his mom.

“Jayden is a superhero in his own right,” said Shellie Long. “He’s been dealt a horrible deck of cards, and he doesn’t complain and he never asks ‘why me?'”

The MDA means a lot to them.

“When my son was first diagnosed, which is a very hard thing to deal with, they were there for the support, they were there for the education,” said Shellie.

Jayden has an incredible, but busy, year ahead of him.

“His biggest honor is he gets to speak at the state firefighters convention,” said Shellie.

Our firefighters collect donations every year for the MDA by filling the boot, and that helps pay for research and programs like the MDA summer camp for kids. Jayden wanted to give back to those firefighters.

“On Christmas Eve I got the idea of bringing little fruit trays and treats to the firefighters to say thanks,” he said.

Jayden’s mom knows her son’s struggle well. She was also diagnosed with the same form of muscular dystrophy. Tragically, her other son died at just 77 days old from pneumonia, a likely complication of mitochondrial myopathy.

“Jaxon had passed away in his sleep … to say the least it’s the hardest thing you ever go through ever,” said Shellie.

“I barely got to even know him,” said Jayden about his little brother. “He had the same disease as I do.”

You can see why this honor is so important to Jayden and his family. He plans to work hard to spread awareness and raise money for the MDA.