What Happened to Danny

Danny was a healthy young boy. Like most teenagers, Danny experienced the highs and lows of adolescence. Shortly before his eighth-grade graduation, Danny came down with a mega-virus. Having kept him ill and in bed for ten weeks, the virus had a profound effect on Danny, both physically and emotionally. He suffered weakness due to tissue deterioration and fatigue which made him vulnerable for ensuing depression, and bullying from new his peers. However Danny was so determined and fastidious about overcoming his illness, he pursued every avenue that he and his treatment team thought would benefit him. He was hopeful and convinced the regime of multiple conventional and alternative approaches would provide him with recovery.

In fact, by age seventeen, Danny had achieved a significant period of remission in his depression, had many friends, including a girlfriend, and was working out with a personal trainer. He spent time writing music and playing with his rock band while maintaining a 99 GPA. Danny showed no suicidal signs. He spent the evening before his passing with his girlfriend, Grace. Danny's family was utterly shocked by his death.  However, depression and suicidality can arise quickly, and even in a period of remission can be triggered by many things, especially stress or devaluation or mistreatment by others. Which was the case the day Danny took his life.

About Danny

Daniel Gerald Briglio, also known as Danny, by family and friends was a kind, compassionate and loving person who loved his family and friends. 

A gifted artist, Danny enjoyed writing poetry, music and creating art from watercolor landscapes, self-portraits and futuristic etchings. A music enthusiast, Danny played the piano and ukulele but the guitar was his first love. His knowledge and scope of music always impressed others and was up to talking music anytime. 

Other interests Danny had were video games and anything science-fiction and fantasy adventure - Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and Dr. Who - were some of his favorites. He also enjoyed attending the pop-culture event, Comic Con every year.

Remembered as a person with great empathy towards people and animals, Danny was a loving son, brother, nephew, cousin and friend.

His smile and calming presence always made those around him feel at ease. One of his closest companions was his kitten, Jesse. At thirteen, Danny insisted on adopting Jesse, as he knew he needed a companion, recalls his mother. The kitten became Danny's constant guardian. It was not only the furry type that was drawn to Danny. He had a great respect for nature, especially trees, streams, plants and gardens.  Or their trip to Montreal when Danny got his first tattoo: a dragonfly. In symbolism, the meaning of the dragonfly represents change in mental and emotional maturity and the understanding of the deeper meaning of life. Danny became the dragonfly. It was the essence of who Danny was, explains his mother, an “old soul” who was wise beyond his years.

Just like the wings on the dragonfly enables it to soar, Danny’s wings gave him the power to fly. To find comfort in the loss of Danny is to understand the dragonfly. Danny had a calling and flew towards it and away from his loved ones to a higher purpose.

Many of Danny’s peers remember him as an intelligent, compassionate, friendly and disarming person— the kind of friend most of us would have wished for in high school. One friend recalls relocating to a new school and Danny being his first friend there, another friend recalls her gratitude when Danny offered her all of the answers on a psychology assignment. Danny is remembered for his thoughtful and positive critiques in writing class and his passion for open-minded debate, even on controversial topics. 

Danny left behind a loving family. His mother, Jacqueline; father, Richard; older brother, Benjamin; grandmother, Evelyn; stepfather, Christopher Gay; stepbrother, Gregory; lifelong best friend, Daniel Torte and first love, Grace Carsella.