Brianna Michiko Izquierdo

Brianna was born April 11, 2001 in Towson, MD, she was the daughter of Chris and Emi Izquierdo of Hampstead, MD.  She also had one older brother, Logan Izquierdo and many pets.  (3 dogs- Kumiko, Tootsie and Yoshi & 4 cats- Kira, Cinnamon, Tater and Pearl)

She was always very active and started with gymnastics when she was 2yrs old. Eventually, she gave up gymnastics to try other things, like dance and horseback riding.  Over the years, she also took swim lessons, played soccer, tennis and did track and field.  Ultimately, out of everything she had tried, she fell in love with horses.  She took lessons for a few years...it was amazing to watch her pick hooves and groom them, especially since she wasn't even as tall as their legs.  She had no fear.  And of course, this led to her wanting to get her own horse.  As most of us know, lessons are pricey and the cost to have your own horse are up there to.  This led to us finding someplace to volunteer.  We found the Gentle Giant Draft Horse Rescue, in Howard County, MD.  She started volunteering there the summer between 4th & 5th grade, she was 10 years old.  She mucked stalls, scrubbed water troughs, restocked hay bales, fed and groomed draft horses and couldn't have cared less with how hard the work was.  And the best part about volunteering there, once you volunteer 30 hours, you get to ride for free.  She could earn her chance to ride.  Honestly, Chris and I thought that all the hard work   would "deter" her from wanting her own horse.  We were wrong, it just fueled the fire.  She swore when she grew up she'd have a farm with a few horses.

​Brianna loved working with children as well.  She volunteered as a camp counselor for the North Carroll Recreation Council the summer of 2013 and 2014.  During the spring and summer of 2014, she volunteered as a team leader for younger children taking tennis lessons, another  program offered through the North Carroll Recreation Council. 

The summer of 2014, we found a new place to volunteer...much closer to home.  The Little Longears Miniature Donkey Rescue in Westminster, MD.  Our family had never heard of mini donkeys before, so of course this piqued our curiosity.  We made a trip to visit them and we fell in love right away.  And, not only do they have mini donkeys, the have some horses there to.  Brianna was in heaven.  She volunteered there once a week all summer.  Again, grooming/feeding, mucking fields/stalls and best of all, getting to take the miniature donkey's on walks.  The last time she volunteered there, she helped prep 2 run in sheds for the winter season.  It was very hot that day, and incredibly labor intensive, but she didn't complain once.  She just enjoyed helping and being around the donkeys.

Brianna earned 87 service hours over the summer of 2014, in total she had almost 200 hours already.  She only needed 75 hours to graduate.  This is the kind of person she was, very giving and nurturing.  We couldn't have been more proud of her.

Brianna also overcame bullying.  She had been bullied by a group of girls, who used to be her friends at the end of second grade.  Along with myself, her mom, she attended 2 seminars, Rosalind Wiseman's "Girl World Tour" and "Finding Kind", went to counseling and read lots of books about bullying.  Brianna learned to not only stand up for herself, but other people.  She became an advocate.  She and I also found out about a program called, stompoutbullying.org.  Every year on the first Monday of October, we promote Blue Shirt Day, World Day of Bullying Prevention.  Because of Brianna, her school (North Carroll Middle) participates in the event.  It was her idea to get her old elementary school and her brother's high school to participate as well.  This is something our family will continue to promote as it meant so much to Brianna.

Brianna was involved with Girl Scouts for 4 years.  She thought the field trips were the best.  The Port Discovery Overnight and the Columbia Mall Lock-In were her favorites.  She earned tons of patches and made many friends.

Not only was Brianna smart, she was funny.  She always had some quick, witty repertoire to respond to whatever remark you may have made to her.  If she wasn't smiling, she had a smirk or she'd make a funny face.

She loved to draw, paint, watch movies, spend time with her family, jump on the trampoline, knit (with a knifty knitter), sew, make bracelets, craft and read. (She could read a book in a couple of days.) 

Tragically, Brianna passed away on September 9, 2014. She was only 13 years old, but somehow, she managed to pack in a lot of things in that time span.  She had a heart of gold and is terribly missed.

We hope friends and family will share their memories and stories about Brianna here, so everyone can remember her and smile.