farragutpress

Cops 4 Cooper

Massive show of law enforcement support for ‘tough as nails’ Cooper, 4

August 6, 2020 by Alan Sloan

When you’re forced to battle for your life — at age 4 — you deserve an extraordinary show of support.

Following only four days of planning by area law enforcement and emergency responders, the resulting “Cops 4 Cooper” gathering featured two helicopters, four motorcycle units and roughly 12 patrol cars, which were joined by two Rural Metro Fire Department trucks and one Knoxville Rescue Squad truck.

The resulting convoy, which began at Two Rivers Church in Dixie Lee Junction, came eastward on Kingston Pike to Watt Road and ended in Mayor Bob Leonard Park late Friday morning, July 31 — all to show support for Cooper Stansbury, 4, as this little boy from Farragut continues a nine-month battle with cancer.

Judging by Cooper’s energy and enthusiasm — especially while “at the controls” of a Tennessee Highway Patrol Bell 206 helicopter — he’s winning the battle hands down.

“That kid’s got everything he needs to have to get through this,” said his father, Sam Stansbury, who was joined by Cooper’s mother, Lauren Stansbury, along with other family and friends at the park. “He’s got a loving family, a huge support system — and he’s tough as nails.

“He’s battled every day since day 1 (Nov. 4 of last year when diagnosed at age 3),” the father added. “It may have knocked him down from 100 mph to 80, but he’s doing fantastic.”

Featuring fleets and officers from Knox County and Loudon County sheriff’s offices (including KCSO’s “Aviation” helicopter and two TANGO motorcycles) along with THP and the fire and rescue units, two Blount County Sheriff’s Office motorcycles and one Anderson County patrol car also were made available.

The new KCSO K-9, “Trip,” was on hand entertaining Cooper and the other children by chasing a red ball.

“It’s been absolutely incredible,” Sam Stansbury said about the support. “We’re very grateful; we’ve got a huge support system here.

“My wife likes to say, ‘It takes a village,’ and this is our village, everybody right here,” he added. “It’s outstanding.”

As for Cooper’s treatment, “He’s been through five rounds of chemotherapy, about five months, and he’s been through a Tandem Stem-Cell transplant,” Stansbury said. “We’re getting ready to start radiation therapy on Monday morning (Aug. 3), and we’ll do that for two weeks.

“And then six months of immunotherapy, and then hopefully we’ll be ending our treatment process,” he added.

“… It’s mind-blowing for someone that small to go through something like this. It’s heartbreaking, but it’s motivating as well to see him wake up everyday just ready to roll.”

As for the parents’ struggles, “It has been life-altering in a lot of ways,” Stansbury said. “But it has brought our family together in such a way that I have no doubt that he’s going to beat this and be a successful, incredible child.

“He already is an incredible child.” Cooper has twin younger siblings, newborns Colt and Sophia.

Cops 4 Cooper idea

Brainchild of this massive law enforcement gathering was Sgt. Matt Fagiana, Public Information officer at LCSO.

“I started following (Cooper’s) story on Facebook through his parents’ postings” based on having “mutual friends,” he said.

Before long, “I just found myself captured by his story and wanted to do something for him,” Fagiana added.

Beginning Monday, July 27, “I sent a group text to the sheriffs of Loudon, Anderson, Blount and Knox, and to the commander of the THP district here and asked them if we could put something together,” Fagiana said.

“They responded back immediately and said, ‘absolutely.’”