Hello, Team Coen #12 and Prayer Warriors. Coen and his family can feel your support. This page will be updated with the latest news on Coen’s progress as it becomes available. In the meantime, here are some ways Team Coen can help:
PRAY. For Coen’s peace and strength to fight and battle.
WRITE. Coen loves letters. Address is
Barnes Jewish Hospital
ATTN : LINDA NASH
mail stop 90-35-711
One Park view Place
FOR CALEB BROWN
St. Louis MO 63110
SUPPORT. Many people are asking how they can help. To join the meal train, contact Barb Hagebusch (bhagebusch@gogremlins.com). If you would like to help monetarily with the many, many incidental expenses that go with being at your child’s side in a distant city while holding down the fort at home, the GoFundMe link is HERE.
Your prayers and love directed toward Coen, his parents, Matthew and Nikki, and his six siblings are appreciated beyond what words can express.
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AUGUST 23, 2022
Posted by Coen’s Aunt
Coen was in ICU early this week from an infection in his abdomen (due to chemo). It was very scary and moved quickly, but he pushed through. Matt and I were talking last night just about how tough and strong Coen is. This boy- he will FIGHT. He just tonight, got transferred out of the ICU, and is back on his regular floor. Will update when we get more news on progress of chemo. Nik stayed all night with CoCo… he couldn’t sleep. They were awake until 6am this morning. Just her and her son. Precious memories for them, she just wishes it wasn’t in the ICU.
Three things:
- Please pray for peace over Coen. For strength to fight and battle. He’s very lethargic and has no energy.
- Please write him. He loves mail. Kids send pictures! We’ve told him about all our friends who know his story and putting His name to the Father’s presence! Here’s the address:
Barnes Jewish Hospital
ATTN : LINDA NASH
mail stop 90-35-711
One Park view Place
FOR CALEB BROWN
St. Louis MO 63110
Thank you for praying with us.
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Cor . 4:18
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AUGUST 21, 2022
Coen Brown & family update: PLEASE SHARE FAR AND WIDE–your prayers are felt and SO needed for Coco, his parents Matthew & Nikki, his six siblings, and now a precious niece, Fifi (Ally’s new baby)!
After a couple of really GOOD days, the chemotherapy side effects are delivering a wallop. Coco was moved to the intensive care unit (ICU) today. He’s receiving platelets (give blood whenever you can, friends! THIS is one way it us used!) and antibiotics. His white cell count is very, very low. Please pray for quick permanent destruction of the cancer, a speedy restoration of white blood cells to healthy levels, effectiveness of the antibiotics, strong and smooth functioning of his organs, and fortitude for this journey. Nikki says that like always, he still brushes off the hugs, preferring to stay focused on the task at hand–“He goes hard in the paint all the time.” (That’s Conner watching over his brother from the corner today.)
Ally delivered beautiful little Seraphine “Fifi” yesterday (Saturday) via c-section and they both came through like champs. As big sister to this bunch, she has had a LOT of life preparation for this moment. You can see that on her face in this pic. (If you’d like to help welcome Fifi, DM me for details.)
Coco loves to receive mail and it helps him to know he is loved, supported in prayer and that we are all TEAM COCO: Siteman Cancer Center – Parkview Tower ATTN: Coen Brown Rm 12831, 1 Parkview Place St. Louis, MO 63110 (He is not in this room right now, but they’ll get it to him.)
Taking meals/food gift cards to the siblings at home is as helpful as you imagine it would be if you were in this situation. If you feel called to help in this way, please contact Barb Downing Hagebusch at bhagebusch@gogremlins.com to be added to the schedule.
Healing and fortifying prayers are the greatest need, but if you would like to help monetarily with the many, many incidental expenses that go with being at your child’s side in a distant city while holding down the fort at home, the GoFundMe link is at the top of this web page. Words just aren’t enough to convey the love and gratitude from the Brown family for helping to brace them on this journey.
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AUGUST 18, 2022
Coen Brown & family update! AS ALWAYS, PLEASE share far and wide–your prayers and love directed toward Coen, his parents Matthew & Nikki and his six siblings are appreciated beyond what words can express and they can feel their uplifting effects–a balm to body and soul. They are so grateful for the community “leaning in” to hold them up in this time of need and Nikki says that she can’t wait for the day when she can prove that acts of service are her love language for others. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Day 4 of chemo, and Coco is putting his superpower focus and determination (you can see it on his face in this pic, even though he’s tired) to work, refusing to wait on rehab and moving himself into a chair today. The pain management is working, but not perfect! Docs say he won’t have negative effects from the chemo until next week, so “enjoying” this reprieve to build strength for the journey. Pray the chemo effects on the cancer are total annihilation and the effects are gentle and fortifying to the rest of his body. They conduct blood tests daily to gauge the effects of the chemo. Once this round is finished, another round of chemo will begin September 5th.
If life were “normal” this would be the main attraction, but Baby Fifi, Ally Brown’s baby, is expected to make her appearance a little early, within the next 24 hours! Ally is at 37 weeks, so that baby is baked and will no doubt do great, but please increase prayers for their smooth sailing so they can both come home soon and be joyous and welcome diversions that babies and new mamas are. Coen is so excited to meet her. If you’d like to help welcome Baby Fifi into the world, contact Bev Rollings at beverly@rollingsarchitects.com.
Coco LOVES to receive mail at the hospital and your letters help him pass the time. His mailing address is Siteman Cancer Center – Parkview Tower ATTN: Coen Brown, Rm 12831 1 Parkview Place St. Louis, MO 63110
Taking meals/food gift cards to the siblings at home is a divine gift. If you feel called to help in this way, please contact Barb Hagebusch (bhagebusch@gogremlins.com) to be added to the schedule.
Prayers are most important and fortifying, but if you would like to help monetarily with the many, many incidental expenses that go with being at your child’s side in a distant city while holding down the fort at home, the GoFundMe link is HERE.
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AUGUST 14, 2022
Many have asked, the address to write to my son:
Siteman Cancer Center-Parkview Tower
ATTN: Coen Brown-RM 12831
1 Parkview Place
St. Louis, MO 63110
Thank you
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AUGUST 11, 2022
From Nikki Brown
Thank you to the mountains of people who have prayed, served, donated, organized, texted, called, and loved all over my son and our family.
I told a few friends recently that usually I can string together words a little better than a “thank you” but I can’t right now. My brain is mush and fog. My reality is divided between nightmarish and joyful. It’s a weird world for us right now. Weird that it’s real, mostly.
My sister suggested keeping a journal of all the light that’s come from this dark time. And maybe I will. But for now as I’m thanking for the prayers, as I’m thanking for the reminders to stay faithful to an absolutely and perfectly good God, for now as I thank the crowds of those gathering in the name of Coco; I would like to share what I know about the kid yall are pouring into.
I shared some pictures. One, I posted a few months ago. He is at the gate talking to the children after school. They beg him not to leave. But he always returns.
After basketball is over. And college is done..
that kid at the gate? THATS who my son is. That’s his heart. That’s his pursuit: goodness and love.
Coco has always been a complete beast. Competitive isn’t a strong enough word. This kid could pick up water polo today, and be on the Olympic team, tomorrow. He’s a leader. Natural and not arrogant. He loves food like most boys but I’m pretty sure he eats more than any human male species out there. He is intelligent, and swears he is smarter than Cadey. He knows what he wants and he has no problem telling you. He is stubborn (apple doesn’t fall far) he is compassionate and loves his family. He loves his circle. He recently had a talk with one of his younger brothers and it went like this: “Prom is stupid. Being in relationships is stupid. Don’t worry about being popular. All of that is a distraction and all you need is right here. Your family” He’s a forward kid. Don’t ask if you don’t want the truth. He’s so funny. He’s so flipping charming. Deeply kind and secretly soft hearted. And other than Jesus, there is nothing this kid loves more, than basketball. And that’s an understatement. He’s a good kid. A for real, good kid. The only sneaking out he’s ever done is to the gym. And where you see him. You’ll see his squad. And they’re all boys. All considered brothers.
Coen is in (every literal sense of the word) a fight for his life right now. It’s the most bizarre disease. It’s the rarest of the word rare. It’s stranger than fiction, how it’s happened and the nature of this cancer. Almost unbelievable. I would dare to say if you didn’t know of us personally, I wouldn’t believe this story. Believe me, I wish it weren’t true. Or weren’t us. But it is my son and Coen is in a critical state of health.
The latest update is:
He’s at Wash U in StL for now.
MD Anderson has him on pause for admission
More scans done this morning
Still waiting on bone marrow results
Ordered another biopsy this time of foot
His pain is tolerable for now
He doesn’t sleep, hasn’t slept well in weeks
We aren’t sure how long he will be in this hospital
Treatment needs to start now and we believe this hospital is a great place to start
Ally, Ash and Adriana are better with following up and answering questions. I apologize if I haven’t responded to anyone reaching out. I do well to remember to brush my teeth with a toothbrush and not a lash brush like I did today.
Again, thank you from every part of my and my family. I have been so humbled. KEEP IT UP. Coen has a long long road ahead.
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AUGUST 10, 2022
Thank you so much to anyone who donated, sent food, prayed for Coen, helped out with getting things for my siblings, etc. Our family feels so loved and we are so thankful to have the people in our lives that we do. Coen is so blessed!! We are so blessed!! A little update:
So currently, Coen is in St. Louis. He had to be transferred there due to there is a better oncology unit there. He has had scans all day today, and will continue to have more tomorrow. We are waiting on his bone marrow biopsy to come back as well as scan results. This will help determine staging and a treatment plan. Things to pray for:
Results from scans and biopsy to come quickly so treatment can start.
Pain to be taken away from his entire body.
He is in constant pain that makes him not able to walk or really function without help and heavy narcotics. It’s a type of cancer that is very aggressive and is on his spine as we know of so far, so it’s very painful and it has been very hard on him.
Again thank you all so much Coen loves y’all!! ♥️
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AUGUST 6, 2022
This is a long post but it will explain all that’s happened to my brother, Coen.
For those of you who don’t know (and I’m sorry to repeat it to the few friends that do know)
My brother, Coen, started having some pain in his chest and legs shortly after he returned from his college visit in FL. For three weeks he made 6 ER visits; writhing in pain and not being able to breathe.
The hospital and doctors here ran many tests. They couldn’t find anything and no reason as to why he was in such tremendous pain. For those three weeks he laid awake all night and most days in pain, throwing up bile and blood and not breathing well.
Finally they went to a hospital St Lukes in Kansas City. Coen had lost 25.5 pounds by now and was incredibly dehydrated. And the pain never stopped and seemed unbearable.
The specialist admitted him immediately to the hospital where they ran more tests for over a week. What they found were two masses. One on his right shoulder adjacent to his spine and one on his left rib/lung. The doctors ordered a biopsy on the rib mass and bone marrow draw.
On Friday, the pathologist told Coen it is Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumors. We were told by the pathologist that it’s the rarest of the rare and less than 20 cases a year are seen. We are not sure of his treatment plan or what any of it looks like. It’s an aggressive cancer and again, I can’t stress how much pain he is in all of the time. Likely this upcoming week we will know more.
I’ve started a crowd funding for my parents. And anyone willing to give in other ways, please reach out! I can give a thousand other ways to serve my family. Click here.
I’m asking for anyone willing to prayerfully consider sharing this with their friends and considering how to serve my brother and family.
A thank you to the families that have been mindful of how best to serve and show up for my family.
