Sister Wives Star Meri Brown Opens Up About Best Friend’s Heartbreaking Medical Struggles
In an emotionally charged and heartfelt livestream, Sister Wives star Meri Brown opened up alongside her best friend Jen, revealing the heartbreaking medical struggles Jen’s family has been quietly facing—and why they’re now reaching out to the public for help.
The two friends are organizing a Sullivan Family Bike Ride and Breakfast Fundraiser to help cover the growing mountain of medical expenses faced by Jen’s family. With Meri’s loyal fanbase and platform, she’s urging everyone to be cautious and generous—ensuring donations go to the correct Venmo account, as scammers have already started exploiting the situation. According to Meri, “Don’t get scammed. There is only one official Venmo account.” She has posted screenshots and details on her verified pages, urging viewers to verify spacing and punctuation to avoid falling into traps set by fraudsters.
But this story isn’t just about logistics. It’s about heartbreak, resilience, and the power of sisterhood. In a deeply personal and emotional segment of their livestream series Fridays with Friends, Jen broke down in tears while recounting the grueling journey her family has endured. Meri did her best to stay composed but couldn’t help shedding tears herself as she shared Jen’s story.
A Diagnosis That Changed Everything
Jen’s husband was diagnosed with sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, nearly two years ago. Initially believed to be a benign cyst, it was only after surgery that the diagnosis came through. The journey hasn’t been linear. There were misdiagnoses, multiple surgeries, and devastating moments when the cancer returned—and Jen’s husband kept the news to himself for two months to avoid adding to her stress.
At one point, both Jen and her husband were facing medical battles—she had to undergo surgery for a non-cancerous tumor around the same time his cancer came back. Jen admits she didn’t tell Meri immediately, thinking she was protecting her friend from further distress. “I was mad at my husband for keeping it from me, and then I did the same thing to you,” Jen admitted on camera, finally allowing herself to be vulnerable and honest. The moment brought both women to tears.
A Relentless Battle
Over the past year, Jen’s husband endured radiation treatments, surgeries, and the removal of not just two—but three—tumors. One was hidden outside the radiation area and had grown undetected. One of the surgeries was so invasive it required doctors to remove a football-sized portion of muscle and tissue from the back of his leg. He’s currently unable to walk unassisted and is undergoing a slow and painful recovery.
To make matters worse, Jen’s son was recently involved in a serious bike accident—yet another traumatic hit for the already fragile family. Meri and their friend Amber rushed to help in the only way they could—by buying out the gluten-free section of Costco and delivering supplies, knowing the family has celiac disease and can’t easily rely on outside help.
Despite these unimaginable hardships, Meri praised Jen as an “amazing human… beautiful, strong, kind, supportive, and giving”—emphasizing “giving” twice to highlight how much Jen does for others even in her own darkest moments. Meri described her as someone who doesn’t ask for help, who keeps things private, and who prefers to support others behind the scenes. But now, it’s Jen’s turn to be lifted up.
How You Can Help
The upcoming fundraiser on Saturday, July 26th in Parowan, Utah includes an 8 a.m. bike ride starting at Gear Up Bike and Sports, followed by a 10 a.m. breakfast at Lizz’s Heritage Inn. Tickets are $10 per person, per event. For those who can’t attend in person, a bake sale and raffle are scheduled for Monday, September 1st, also in Parowan. All proceeds will go directly to help pay for Jen’s husband’s medical treatments, surgeries, recovery care, and the financial burden from their son’s accident.
And while Meri is known for her strong on-screen presence, she admitted that this time, she’s not the strong one. “We just do. We drop what we’re doing, we’re there, and we support and love,” she said, tearing up as Jen’s voice cracked beside her.
A Friendship That Transcends the Screen
In a moment of candid reflection, Jen confessed that Meri even put her entire life on hold when she learned of Jen’s husband’s diagnosis. Meri had been planning a major move—potentially to New York—and new adventures, but instead she stayed behind. “I didn’t ruin my life for you,” Meri said jokingly. But Jen knew the truth—Meri chose to be there for her when she needed someone the most.
Jen and Meri’s bond runs deep. Their humor, even amid tragedy, keeps them grounded. But this fundraiser isn’t just about Jen’s family—it’s about shining a light on sarcoma awareness, as July is the official Sarcoma Awareness Month. It’s about rallying a community that has followed Sister Wives for years and showing that beyond the drama and TV moments, there’s real heart, real friendship, and real pain behind the scenes.
Jen’s emotional breakdown on live video was raw and heartbreaking. She tried to explain why she’d been absent for so long. “Sometimes I disappear when I’m trying to handle something,” she admitted. “I didn’t want to tell my kids. I didn’t know how.” And when they finally did tell their children—ages 10 and 13—her daughter responded in typical teenage wisdom: “Well, he’s not dead, is he? So, we’re fine.”
It’s these small moments of love, honesty, and resilience that make Jen’s story so impactful. And Meri, never far from her best friend’s side, is doing everything she can to make sure Jen gets the support she deserves.
As Meri said, “You don’t get to be sorry. You get to disappear when and how you need to.” But now, it’s time to show up. Whether it’s through attending the fundraiser, donating directly via the correct Venmo account, or simply spreading awareness—every small action matters.
So if you’ve ever laughed, cried, or connected with these women through Sister Wives, this is your chance to give back. Support Jen. Support her husband. Support the kids. Support the friend who has supported so many others. And if this story moved you the way it moved us, consider donating or sharing the fundraiser.
Check Meri or Jen’s official pages for the real Venmo link. Screenshot the flyer. Don’t let scammers win.
Because sometimes, the strongest people need help too. 💛
