Big-Hearted Aggies Create Bucket List Weekend

After a young Aggie received a grim prognosis from her doctor, she wished for the chance to enjoy one more Aggie football game at Kyle Field. The Aggie Network came through to give her the experience of a lifetime.

For about six and a half years, Lauren Brown ’16 has battled Ewing sarcoma, an aggressive cancer with low survival rates that typically affects teens and young adults. She worked hard to keep up with her classwork while battling the disease, and in September 2015, she received her Aggie Ring. 

But in late September, she learned she had no remaining treatment options for her aggressive cancer. She was given only two weeks to two months to live. 

When Christel Morrison ’88 learned that Lauren's bucket list included attending one more A&M football game at Kyle Field, she reached out to her Aggie Network for help making Lauren's wish come true. Christel contacted Aggies at the Dallas A&M Club, who reached out to The Association of Former Students.

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Lauren and Foster with (from left)  Mark Fischer ’72, Association President and CEO Porter S. Garner III ’79, and SuSu Fischer.

The Association made parking arrangements and offered two tickets so Lauren could enjoy the Aggies' game against Tennessee in a suite with Association Board member Mark Fischer ’72. When Fischer and his wife, SuSu—a cancer survivor herself—learned of Lauren’s story, they generously offered up two more tickets so she could bring additional guests.

As word spread, many others offered to help make her visit to Aggieland a special one. In College Station the day before the game, Lauren was treated to a shopping spree at Aggieland Outfitters, a meal at the Republic Steakhouse, and happy hour with reserved seating at the Dixie Chicken before attending Midnight Yell Practice as a VIP guest of the yell leaders.

On Saturday, with ESPN GameDay in town for the game, Brown was also able to meet longtime sports broadcaster Lee Corso. The Fischer family also reached out to contacts at the university and the 12th Man Foundation to arrange additional surprises for Brown.

“I wanted to help out as a fellow Aggie to make this a special day that would amount to something in her mind with her limited number of remaining days,” Fischer said.

The 12th Man Foundation provided sideline passes that allowed Lauren field access prior to kickoff. During the game, she enjoyed visits from Texas A&M President Michael K. Young, Association President and CEO Porter S. Garner III ’79, Corps Commandant Brig. Gen. Joe Ramirez ’79, and Aggieland’s loveliest lady—Reveille IX.

Lauren with Reveille IX, Association President and CEO Porter S. Garner III ’79, and Corps Commandant Brig. Gen. Joe Ramirez ’79.

“You couldn’t believe the excitement on her face when she saw Reveille,” Fischer said. "General Ramirez was able to pull that together and I think it made for a tremendous experience for her. The way the Aggie Network came together to make life a little better for this young lady was really fabulous.”

The generosity of the Fischers and all parties involved helped create a series of meaningful moments. In a Facebook post, Lauren called her visit to Aggieland "the most amazingly perfect time!"

Since her visit to Aggieland, Lauren has remained active, making trips to Oklahoma and Colorado. Her parents wrote on Lauren's CaringBridge page that she sets an example by making each day count.

“Every day that she can get up and go and do what she wants to do is a miracle to be celebrated," they wrote. "None of us are promised a tomorrow."

You can follow updates on Lauren and post words of encouragement on her CaringBridge page at tx.ag/m2fM2X6. 

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Lauren Elizabeth Brown, age 22, died on Friday, December 9, 2016, in Frisco, Texas, following a six and a half year battle with Ewing’s Sarcoma. Read her Silver Taps obituary at: tx.ag/LEBrown16