Taylon Cogar

"On April 1st, 2014 16 year old Taylon Cogar was given news that he only wished could have been a bad April fools joke … he had cancer.

Just the day before, this athletic teen had been envisioning a spring filled with baseball. Having just landed a spot on the Kalispell Lakers baseball team in Montana, he was excited about what was to come. Unfortunately, what started out as a presumed knee injury from football the previous fall, quickly turned into something more as Taylon was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, or bone cancer. The next words uttered were tumor, cancer, and biopsy in Salt Lake City, UT.

Osteosarcoma is seen most often in teenage boys, and like Taylon’s case, it typically involves the knee. Taylon underwent several MRI scans and biopsies that determined the cancer had also spread to his lungs. Because of his age, and the fact that the cancer has spread, it is considered Stage 4.

In the coming months his family will seek treatment for Taylon both in Salt Lake City, UT as well as Montana. Taylon will be undergoing chemotherapy, and the doctors have also said he will need knee replacement surgery.

Your thoughts and prayers during this time are greatly appreciated. We pray for discernment for the medical physicians treating Taylon, we pray strength for his family as they guide him through this journey, and ultimately we pray for total and complete healing for Taylon.

Regardless of whether you know the family personally or not, anyone can understand what an emotionally draining experience this is. As a parent your only concern is being there for your child, being available to meet their needs, and the needs of your other children.

Often when something happens to a friend or loved one we want to help, but we don’t know how. With Darren & Susanne’s permission, I have created this page in the hopes that each person reading it finds it in their heart to help the family through daily prayers, and also through the gift of a monetary donation.

100% of the money donated will be given directly to Darren & Susanne to help them in the coming months. There are many unforeseen expenses that arise with a medical diagnosis such as this, and the absolute best gift we can give Darren & Susanne, along with our prayers & support, is the financial assistance necessary to help them through it. The money raised will be used for medical and living expenses not covered by insurance.

Let’s support them as much as we can in this journey, so they can spend precious time supporting Taylon.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declared the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. So that you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart.” - Jeremiah 29:11-13"

This was copied from http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/the-taylon-cogar-fund/164173. Taylon and I grew up in Kalispell MT together and have shared many memories. A memory I would not like to have is losing my friend to cancer and I'm sure I wouldn't be the only one. Since the site to raise money for Taylon has been started, the Cogars have raised $7,199 of the $10,000 goal and I'm sure would appreciate to raise the rest, please consider helping this effort. Taylon has recieved his knee replacement surgery, had one lung operated on, and will be preparing for the second lung operation. He is still going through extensive chemo therapy and has been going to highschool in Kalispell as well.

Prayers are greatly apprectiated for Taylon and his family. Thank you for your time and consideration in prayers and financial support.

AN UPDATE AS OF 10-27-2015: Taylon's cancer went into remission after both lungs had been operated on, in the winter of 2014. By April 1, 2015 (exactly one year after being diagnosed), Taylon was told he was cancer free. Just months later scans showed tumors in his lungs. Tumors that were inoperable. The only choice left for Taylon was radiation. Just weeks ago, Taylon was experiencing back pain and went to the chiropractor. X-rays and scans later revealed that both lungs had filled with tumors and there was a mass of liquid around the left lung and heart. Taylon was flown to Salt Lake City, where doctors deemed him inoperable and simply gave him radiation to relieve some pain. At the beginning of last week, Taylon and his mother went to Mexico, to bring Taylon to the Hope4Cancer center, where Taylon will receive other varieties of treatments that could potentially help him. At this point in time, it is uncertain whether or not Taylon will survive his bout with cancer, but prayers are definitely focused on him and his family. Please continue to send your best thoughts and prayers towards Taylon and the Cogar family.

AN UPDATE AS OF 01-11-2016: By the grace and will of God, Taylon was taken home to Heaven on December 17, 2016. Taylon fought a strong battle and did not lose. Taylon is survived by his family and friends that will never forget his smiling face and the joy he brought to everyone's world. For me, personally, losing Taylon is something I might never be able to accept to the fullest extent. Taylon was more than a friend of mine; Taylon was my brother.
Taylon, I pray you rest easy and I cannot wait to see you again some day. I love you.