Pictured Left: Tom, Connie and Daniel at "The Museum of Appalachia" in Norris, TN.

Pictured Below Left: Daniel playing at home.

Pictured Below Right: Daniel performs with "New Road" aka "The Hammer Dan String Band".

The fact that Daniel battled leukemia and complications from a bone marrow transplant for eleven plus years was not a detriment, but rather another way God further used Daniel to witness to others.

As we pondered on Daniel Austin Brantley's remarkable life, ministry, and musical abilities, many thoughts and memories welled up in our minds. His musical abilities were remarkable given the fact that in only 3 years, he mastered the Hammered Dulcimer, produced and recorded two projects, played to hundreds of people in concert, and touched everyone he came into contact with in a way that could have only come from his unwavering faith in God, but also through his spirit, kindness, determination, talent, and courage.

The only way to explain it further in a way that sums it up is that Daniel Austin Brantley was anointed by god to be His servant through the saving grace of Jesus Christ, and by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The fact that Daniel battled leukemia and complications from a bone marrow transplant for eleven years was not a detriment, but rather another way God further used Daniel to witness to others. He knew that no matter what physical conditions exist, we should always praise God for it, and help others come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior.

Through his sufferings and physical limitations Daniel's love, hope, faith, and joy were all gifts that he gave no matter what. Daniel never ceased to amaze us, even to the end of his life here with us. His musical talent, wisdom and intellect were phenomenally beyond his years, but his ministry far and beyond all the rest is what Daniel was all about. It was always Daniel's nature to minister to others.

Daniel was one of the most selfless human beings that we ever knew. He taught us valuable lessons on how to treat other people, and the influence he had came from his faith and the natural desire to show how we should walk with Jesus and witness to everyone we come into contact with.

These spiritual attributes were without a doubt why Daniel handled the adversities he faced with his health in the way that he did. Dr. John Lukens, Jr. of Vanderbilt University Pediatric Oncology said it best in a not we received after Daniel's death. He wrote, "In my years as a pediatric oncologist, I had the privilege to work with many patients who confronted adversity with great strength and courage, however, none more so than Daniel. I cannot remember a time that he responded with anger, fear, or self-pity to any of the many setbacks he faced. He accepted what life dealt him with confidence and remarkable equanimity. His life was a sermon to us all."