sat . After Months of Misdiagnosis, 17-Year-Old Roman Coons-Kelley Receives the News His Family Prayed For

For months, Roman Coons-Kelley was told nothing serious was wrong.

Doctors sent him home again and again — saying it was constipation, then an ulcer, then Crohn’s disease, then IBS. Meanwhile, something far more dangerous was spreading silently inside his body.

By the time Roman was finally diagnosed, the truth was devastating: advanced colon cancer. He was only 17 years old.

Surgery followed quickly. So did fear. Tests raised the terrifying possibility that the cancer had already spread beyond what anyone could see. His family braced themselves for the worst, clinging to faith as they waited for answers no parent should ever have to face.

Now, those answers have finally arrived — and they are the ones this family has been praying for.

Roman’s latest PET/CT scan shows no visible cancer.

This week, his mother, Serene, shared words she has waited far too long to say: Roman is home. He is healing. He is active. And according to the scan, he is cancer-free.

Doctors have recommended that Roman begin chemotherapy again out of caution, but Serene says she plans to seek a second opinion before taking the next step. For now, the family is allowing themselves something they haven’t had in a long time — relief.

Roman is not the picture many imagine when they hear the word “patient.” He’s 17. He works construction. He loves carpentry and building things with his hands. He believes deeply in God. And after a battle that would have broken many adults, he is standing — stronger than ever.

His story is one of pain, perseverance, and unanswered questions — but also of faith, resilience, and hope. It’s a reminder of how easily serious illness can be overlooked, and how powerful answered prayers can feel when they finally arrive.

Today, the community is being asked to help welcome Roman home — not just as a survivor, but as a young man who has already faced more than most people ever will.

So what do you say to a teenager who has fought harder than many adults ever do?

Sometimes, the only words that fit are these:
We’re glad you’re here. And we’re so proud of you.