Le Bonheur Pumpkin Run
Memphis, TN
October 18, 2025

As a newborn, Austin Coco was very colicky. When he was 6 months old, his parents noticed he was struggling to breathe, and they took him to the emergency room where he was diagnosed with severe pneumonia.

Doctors at Le Bonheur performed additional testing and discovered he had a congenital heart defect that was impacting his ability to breathe. Austin underwent surgery, yet additional scans uncovered another medical condition ─ periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). PVL is a brain injury that impacts the brain’s white matter which transmits information between nerve cells, the spinal cord and from one part of brain to the other.

From his initial diagnosis, Le Bonheur has been there for Austin and his family every step of the way. Now 15 years old, Austin is fully cognitive but struggles to hold his head up and with basic motor skills. While he can’t walk or talk, thanks to Le Bonheur he is able to communicate via an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device. A sticker located on Austin’s forehead enables him to press a button on his AAC to communicate.

Today, Austin is under the care of multiple specialists, including neurologists, at Le Bonheur and has undergone several surgeries. Austin returns to Le Bonheur for regular check-up appointments and his care team helps his family stay informed on the latest technology and devices available to help Austin thrive.

“Without Le Bonheur, Austin would not have the quality of life he does now,” said Austin’s dad, Dustin Tatum. “Austin’s journey has been daunting and overwhelming at times, yet Le Bonheur has made a huge difference and provided the information and resources Austin needs.”

Austin’s family is so thankful for Le Bonheur Children's. When you participate in this year’s Pumpkin Run, you are making a difference for kids like Austin.