Hannah Coston
Hannah’s Song of Faith: Finding Light in the Darkness
Diagnosed with a rare brain tumor at age 8, Hannah Coston’s journey through cancer became a testament to unwavering faith and the power of hope.
The Beginning
In the summer of 2005, eight-year-old Hannah Coston was like any other spirited third grader in Greenville, South Carolina. She loved skating with friends and splashing at the water park. But gradually, her boundless energy began to fade, replaced by exhaustion that stole her vibrant smile.
At school, Hannah’s constant thirst and frequent bathroom trips puzzled her teacher. Her parents, Darlene and Tim, knew something was deeply wrong. What began as a visit to the pediatrician for suspected mono led to a CT scan that revealed devastating news: their little girl had a brain tumor.
That night at the Children’s Hospital in Greenville, a brain surgeon confirmed the diagnosis that would change their lives forever.
The Diagnosis
Hannah’s tumor was exceptionally rare—a mixed germ cell brain tumor that affects less than 1% of all brain cancer cases. The doctors said they might see such a case once every ten years. The tumor had disrupted her pituitary gland, causing diabetes insipidus, which explained her unquenched thirst.
The rarity of her condition brought uncertainty, but it would also make her survival story one of remarkable hope.
The Fight
Treatment meant six months of chemotherapy and six weeks of radiation at the Children’s Hospital. The tumor hit hard—Hannah lost her sight and was paralyzed for three weeks. But even in that hospital room, her faith never wavered. She sang hymns, her small voice lifting praises to God.
Then came what her family calls a miracle. One Sunday morning after her first chemo treatment, Hannah asked if it was daytime. When the blinds opened and sunlight filled the room, she smiled—her vision had returned. Her father, a minister, rushed from his sermon to the hospital as his congregation rejoiced through his tears.
“That moment became the heart of Hannah’s faith,” her mother recalls. “A reminder that God’s light could shine even in our darkest times.”
The Long Road
The tumor’s effects lasted long after treatment ended. It damaged Hannah’s pituitary gland, causing ongoing health challenges including adrenal issues and an inability to regulate her body temperature. By age 17, her growth had been affected, leading to a severe spinal curve that required surgery at Shriners Hospital in 2014.
Just days after spinal surgery, still recovering, Hannah put on a costume for the Shriners’ Halloween parade. Her smile was a quiet triumph over pain.
In 2016, while eating with church friends, Hannah suffered a grand mal seizure—a late effect of her brain injury, though not a return of cancer. Through the fear, she turned to prayer, finding peace in her unshakeable faith.
The Support That Carried Her
Hannah’s journey was wrapped in love. At Children’s Hospital, child life specialists and therapy dogs provided comfort during the hardest days. Her church family became a foundation of support, moved by the sound of Hannah singing hymns from her hospital bed.
Camp Courage, a retreat for young survivors, gave Hannah a place to heal and connect with others who understood her journey. Her therapy dog Cookie, now 11, has been a constant companion, even sensing her seizures before they happen.
Hannah Today
At 27, Hannah radiates joy. She finds happiness in simple pleasures—coloring, Hallmark Christmas movies, and caring for her grandmother, who has dementia. Her story has been shared through newspaper articles, radio interviews, and even a book, inspiring countless families facing similar battles.
Annual checkups continue, but Hannah’s focus is on living fully in each moment. Her goal is to continue helping spread her story and supporting other children and families through their hospital journeys, just as she was helped.
A Message of Hope
“If doctors say there’s no chance, I know someone who says different—God,” Hannah declares with unwavering conviction. She refuses the label of “remission,” boldly proclaiming she’s cancer-free.
Her life is a living testimony that has touched countless families. She regularly visits hospitals to lift other families facing cancer diagnoses. Her smile and story continue to bring hope to everyone who meets her.
From the hymns she sang in her hospital bed to the laughter she shares today, Hannah’s journey proves that faith can light even the darkest paths, offering hope to all who walk beside her.
Hannah’s story reminds us that miracles still happen, faith can move mountains, and sometimes the most powerful medicine is simply hope.
Story by Mary Pat Minor
Photo by Slice Tomato Productions