Free Response

Koën is my very first baby boy. The first of the big loves of my life. He taught me what deep, real unconditional love is. Born in a hurry, on his due date (the first and only time he was ever punctual!), after getting pulled over for speeding and an ambulance ride to the hospital.

Koën was silly, full of life, loved his friends and family deeply and love to make everyone laugh. He gave the BEST hugs, and had the most amazing head of hair and the most beautiful eyes.

I miss my boy more and more every day.

Every morning koën would leave me a note with my vitamins to start my day off he would try not to wake me up but he couldn’t help himself he had to give me a kiss before he left but not just one he leave and come back in the room about 5 times before he actually left for work

One time we ran out of hot water and I was in the middle of having a bath so koën boiled multiple pots of water and kept running back to boil more so I could have my bath

He was the best at making ramen he had his whole set up with his egg yolk mayo siracha honey etc and he always had to have a buldak around just in case of emergencies

I don’t have any pictures, and I’ve only met Koën once, but I remember sitting in Lily's car, with Koën in the back seat, because I was Lily’s friend and her friends get the front seat. Lily was trying to decide what to eat and had gotten out of the car to grab whatever she wanted. Koën decided to fill the awkward silence by talking about Lily. He expressed concern about her eating and noted that it usually takes her a long time to find something she wants. He even asked me for advice to help support and encourage her. I thought it was so beautiful how, even without her around, all he wanted to talk about was her. I only met him once, but I could feel the never-ending love they have for each other. That moment has stayed with me. I think of them when I think of how I want to be loved and how I want to love. I’m so grateful to have felt the secondhand love that they have.

I can vividly remember when I realized just how special Koën was. It was on the soccer pitch, when he was proudly holding his brand new baby brother Søren. Cradling him in his arms so gently, with so much ease, as if he was made for the job of protective big brother. I was in absolute awe as I watched him. He was only maybe 8 years old, and I had never witnessed such love and devotion from such a young child before. I knew in that moment he was a special kind of human. He is so greatly missed.

We were all at Denny’s three years ago for Brett’s birthday, this was the first time I met any of his friends. We were sitting at the table and everyone was placing their orders. Koën was ordering 2 pancakes and he said to the waitress, “what are the odds you can slap a third?” I always thought that was hilarious and the memory stuck with me.

Whenever we would play games together late at night we’d have our computer cameras on. Every other night he’d always have a new dance or “jig” as we called it to preform after a goal or a win. He was always dancing and it never failed to bring a smile to my face and make me laugh way too loud for how late it was.