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‘Gentle Giant’ Bryant Cooper Loses Battle With Cancer
November 26, 2016
Bryant Thomas Cooper, 19, lost his battle with cancer on Friday.
“My precious son… left his cancer-filled body this morning to be made whole in the glory of God,” his mother, Janet Cooper, wrote on Facebook.
“Even in his last days, Bryant was the most caring, gentle giant I’ve ever seen. He loved everyone. Moments before Bryant left us, he squeezed my hand with such a strong grip until his last breath. I’ll never forget that precious moment with my baby boy.”
“Bryant fought the hardest of battles taking chemo that was made for adults more than 30 years ago,” Janet Cooper wrote. During her son’s battle with cancer, Janet Cooper became a proponent of childhood cancer awareness, urging other to “go gold” for the cause.
During those long hours as Bryant battled cancer, anger began to grow inside Janet. Not just the anger one might expect toward cancer, but an anger of what’s being done to cure childhood cancer.
On average, 43 teens are diagnosed with cancer each day. And before the day ends, a childhood cancer will claim seven lives.
“There are billions and billions of dollars spent on cancer research every year in this country. But only four percent is spent on find a cure for childhood cancers,” she said in 2015 interview.
Unlikely Friends
We introduced you to Bryant and his unlikely friend,2-year old Kena Spivey, in previous stories here on NorthEscambia.com.
In late October of 2014, Bryant was a happy, focused young man with a love for football. And John Deere…that love was strong enough that he had even landed a dream job of sorts with a local John Deere dealership. But pain in his back — he thought just a pulled muscle or maybe kidney stones — sent him to the emergency room. The preliminary diagnosis was not good…suspicious spots on his liver. More tests for a final diagnosis that Bryant and his mother, Janet Little Cooper, never expected on November 4, 2014.
Cancer. Not just cancer, but a Stage 4 rare neuroendocrine cancer, and it had spread with a vengeance to other parts of this body.
Kena was diagnosed with a Stage 3 tumor on her cervix and uterus on July 7, 2014.
Kena was in Sacred Heart Hospital for a chemo treatment, and Bryant was in for his first ever treatment when the two met on November 17. Her parents, Charles and Dawn Spivey, were walking her down the hallway trying to calm her when they met Janet.
Kena’s tears stopped when she saw Bryant lying in his hospital bed. The friendship continued to grow up until her passing in late September.
Comments
36 Responses to “‘Gentle Giant’ Bryant Cooper Loses Battle With Cancer”
“Good night,sweet prince,And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!”
My thoughts and prayers go out to you, Marion, Janet, and Austin. It seems like yesterday that we were next door neighbor’s and we were babysitting Bryant. His kind heart and warm smile will be missed. I’m so very sorry for your loss.
Together Again- Bryant and Kena are in the presence of our King. Prayers of comfort extended to the family.
Janet, I am so sorry to hear of Bryant’s passing. Watching the fight you and Bryant and the rest of your family fought was heart wrenching, and the strength you all showed was inspiring. I pray that you have peace in the days to come knowing that you did absolutely everything you possibly could for Bryant.
RIP Big Guy. May the Angels of Heaven keep you company. My condolences to the family of Mr. Cooper.
I am so sorry to hear of Bryants passing. I will be praying for your family. This is just heartbreaking, I can’t imagine your pain. I did not know Bryant personally, but followed his legacy through social media. This young man – without even knowing it – made such an impact on our small communities. I for one, will never forget that smile and beautiful face.
This was also how I found out that only a meer 4% of research funds were being used to help our children…I was flabbergasted! Janet Cooper-we all thank you for enlightening on this fact. We have got to stand up and fight for our children, and I for one, would love to help in any way, to get something done about this!
But today, we grieve for Bryant and his family. May God be with you all during this most difficult time. I know that Bryant is smiling down on us all and is SO very proud of his family. RIP Bryant
To the cooper family I have known them for a long time and what a great family they are I send my prayers up to them for the loss of such a fine young man. I will never forget the times in church when he would come in and shake your hand and was always so friendly. He would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it and would smile with joy just to be able to help. I will miss you buddy I will look forward to the day that we meet again my friend until then ROLL TIDE ROLL. R.I.P. My Friend!!
I’m so sad to hear this. God has a special place in Heaven for people like Bryant. Prayers go out to all of his family. God Bless
To the Cooper family our sympathies are with you during this time of the loss of your loved one. Cherish the good memories that you have of him. May God bless you.
I was saddened to hear Bryant had lost his battle with cancer. I had watched him on the news & thought what a sweet young man to befriend a little girl who did not understand what she was going through. Cancer is terrible but is even worse for the young who have so much to live for. My son passed from a stage 4 small cell lung cancer. He was the youngest person in the region to have this type of cancer. I feel the families pain. Your lives have changed forever. God bless each member of the Cooper family. May god give you strength now & in the future.
Our hearts and prayers are with you and your family janet
I know no words are enough when you lose a child. But from one mom to another I want you to know it breaks my heart for you and your family. My child is also battling cancer and it’s a tough battle! I agree with this mother saying 4% SIMPLY ISN”T ENOUGH research dollars for our children! This shows how much our government really cares! Families need to ban together and DEMAND MORE THAN 4%! My sincere condolences to your family.
Lord God bless his soul and bless and comfort his family and friends. The loss of a child is a pain like no other, our family knows this pain having recently lost our son.
Bryant will be missed by us all. He was an amazing young man.
So sorry for your loss
My prayers go out to the family. Such a sad story and so sad losing such a young man.
I’m so sorry for your loss, thoughts and prayers for the family and friends of Bryant.
I can remember him bringing in produce in at wrangler steak house with his daddy.such a sweet person. My prayers are with this family.
Prayers going up for all families. Thanks for sharing your story.
I have followed your posts about Bryant for about a year now and feel I know you even though we have never met. My heart breaks for you Janet. We as mothers should never have to bury our children. I know that Bryant is in a better place and will never have anymore pain. Him and Kena are in heaven having a grand old time. May God bless you and Austin in the coming days. Remember that he’s is always by your side to comfort you.
Love and prayers for the Cooper family. It is amazing how many lives Bryant touched. I feel sad although I never met him personally, but God has taken him from all the pain he has endured for so long. He is in heaven with no pain and enjoying his friends. May God gives his family strength and comfort in the days ahead. God needed another angel around his throne and he called Bryant!
I did not know your son but I am so sorry for your lost my God be with your Family at this time and always .Gentle Giant Bryant Copper RIP will be miss.11/25/16
I don’t know Bryant or his family, but my heart felt heavy reading his story. I pray that the Lord give his family strength through times such as this. I can’t ever imagine what his parents are going through, because I’m a parent too and no one can really feel the pain unless you in their shoes.
Continued prayers for the family and friends of this amazing angel. May God bless this family and comfort them.
Prayers for his family.
Prayers for the Cooper and Little Families. We enjoyed watching Bryant growing up with his brother Austin. Bryant loved and showed his love to all in the Bratt Community especially his Grandfather Lawrence. Love ya’ll!
The story of him with 2 year old baby girl was so precious. The sweetness of him could be felt from just reading it. I know that they are together again in heaven. The joy he is feeling now is something we can only imagine. God has a very special place for him and all other children fighting cancer.
WHAT A SAD SAD STORY…I learned about it when the news told the story of Bryant & Kena..My tears are for all the children w/ this horrible disease..Today the tears are for Bryant & his family!!!! GO FLY W/ THE ANGELS BRYANT!!!!!!!
Prayers for Bryant’s family. This young man put up a good fight against this cancer. He wanted to live and be like all his friends and do all the things they could do. But God wanted his child with him, to be rid of so much pain on this earth that Bryant was suffering through. Bryant is in no more pain now and is with all his love ones in heaven. I can just see Bryant with all his new buddies he had met in the hospital. Oh what a great reunion it must be sitting at the feet of Jesus. Praying for comfort and strength for his family in knowing that Bryant is in no more pain. God bless you all.
You will be missed, but now in God’s house you are whole and healthy. That is what we asked God for, tomake you he thy. God saw a better way. We may not understand his ways now, but one day we will.
We promise to hold your family up to God. We have their backs. Love always Bryant.
Prayers for Bryant and his family.
Bryant was a great guy. He always had a smile on his face. Always willing to help anyone in need. He will be dearly missed but never forgotten. He didn’t loose his battle to cancer. He fought hard and won it. He is smiling down today from his brand new body. R.I.P Bryant we will all see you again
Lost for words ,may God bless you
My condolences for Bryant’s family. I am one of many who followed Bryant’s journey on facebook and prayed for him, even though I didn’t know him personally. I was fortunate enough to meet him one day about a year ago. We passed in the halls of the hospital and I introduced myself so I could let him and his mother know that I had been praying for them. I know he will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
Thoughts and prayers go out to the cooper family. I didnt really know Bryant but spoke to him on a good bit of accasions. He always had a smile on his face and nothing less, he was always outgoing and enthusiastic, and never let anything get in his way. Every time we traded conversation he made me smile. He had the best vibe I’d ever experienced.
R.I.P BRYANT COOPER
You will be missed but never forgotten fly high buddy your in a better place now ❤❤❤
To the family of Bryant Cooper you have my sympathies.
He was so kind when he would bring his grandmother to the store where I worked as well as anytime you saw Bryant. This year has shown me that God does work in mysterious ways….ways that we don’t understand. But I know that the people he has taken HOME this year will be waiting for us when we walk thru those gates. I know it is painful for our loss but oh to see what Bryant is seeing now and feeling….to be in the presence of God himself how blessed he truly is.