Obituary of Cooper Keith Herman

Cooper Herman, the young Chapel Hill boy whose battle with brain cancer inspired the creation of the Super Cooper's Little Red Wagon Foundation, died on Sunday. He was 6. "I don't know where to start," his mother wrote on the Super Cooper Facebook page. "So many of you have followed Cooper's journey, as I would periodically post before an upcoming MRI or another major surgery where we were in fear of the outcome, and I knew each and every prayer counted from you all to get him through it. Well they worked time and time again, but this time Coop's little body was just too tired to keep on fighting. For your prayers, love, fellowship and hope we are eternally grateful. "While I write this, I cannot deny or hide the sadness that consumes me as I miss my baby boy more than words can ever express. Though this disease took so much from Coop physically as years and more treatments went by, it merely revealed and enhanced Coop's character, personality and soul. His smile was contagious, expressions limitless, and his bright brown knowing eyes engraved in my mind. His laugh and sense of humor through it all taught me to live with purpose and to slow down and take it all in. From the get go, he put on those boxing gloves and said 'take that' to everything that came his way. He is everything I dreamed of in a son and is my hero. The hole in my heart seems impossible to fill, but knowing I will cradle him again in heaven someday will help hold it together until that time." A memorial service will be held Saturday at 11:30 am at Christ United Methodist Church in Southern Village. "This will be a celebration, so we would like attendees to either wear their Super Cooper shirts, super hero shirts or just plain colorful casual dress," the family wrote on Facebook. "Cooper would have wanted it this way." If you don't have a Super Cooper shirt, you can pick one up at 208 Glen Haven Drive, Chapel Hill, tonight from 6-8 p.m. A balloon launch will follow the memorial service. "Cooper occasionally complained of neck pain in the summer of 2009 after running, jumping or typical toddler play," according to the Super Cooper website. "Each time, with rest, his neck pain would subside and off he would go again!" An MRI in August of that year found a tumor on the base of his brain the size of a golf ball. Duke doctors removed it in a 12-hour procedure, kicking off an intensive treatment regimen that included 68 radiation sessions and 25 MRIs over the years. "Cooper continues inspiring many," the website says. "His courage shines through at each and every visit to the hospital and during countless rehab sessions. He manages to smile and give hugs even in the face off so many obstacles." The foundation was established the same year as the diagnosis. Super Cooper's Rockin' Run and Family Fun has raised more than $60,000 each year for the foundation, which provides dedicated housing and support services for the specific needs of pediatric brain cancer patients and their families. There is a Super ReCOOPERation House in Chapel Hill and Durham. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to the foundation at www.supercooperswagon.org. Walker's Funeral Home of Chapel Hill is honored to serve the Herman family.