FERGUSON, Mo. — It's been more than two weeks since Ferguson Police Officer Travis Brown was seriously injured after a protester violently shoved him to the ground. Brown's family attended a benefit in Pagedale on Saturday that shed new light on the beloved officer's condition.
For weeks, the Ferguson and surrounding community have rallied behind Brown, and Saturday night was no different.
The supportive atmosphere was hard to miss as people gathered together at The Drink House STL in Pagedale to bolster the officer.
It's a much-appreciated sight for Brown's friend, Terrence Monroe.
"We talk to the doctors often and the doctors don't sugar coat it," Monroe said. "The doctors are believing that he could wake up very soon. I can not wait until he wakes up. Like events like this that he has no idea are going on right now. We got to catch him up. "
The fundraiser on Page Avenue ran from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday and raised about $8,000 for Brown and his family.
The family tells 5 On Your Side that Officer Brown remains in a coma, but his condition is improving.
According to the family, doctors are gradually reducing sedation, and the 36-year-old's pneumonia symptoms are also subsiding.
After being knocked to the ground with brain injuries on Aug. 9, the hope is that Brown will wake up soon.
"All the time it's 'them against us,'" said Chief Anthony Huckleberry with Pagedale police who helped organize Saturday's fundraiser. "Officers are human beings. They are energetic people. They want to serve. This officer wanted to serve. He was a community-oriented police officer. So we have to give credit when it needs to be done."
Monroe said it's been one of the most emotional times of his life after watching the footage from the 10-year-anniversary of Michael Brown Jr.'s death and the protest scene earlier this month.
Brown, who had only been on the force for seven months, has been in the hospital ever since.
Talking about why he wanted to come out to the Aug. 24 fundraiser, Donald Carlson told 5 On Your Side it was about supporting police officers and people who help keep his community safe.
"What are you dedicated to? You're dedicated to protecting Missouri and saving us," Carlson said. "Right there you know it's out of love because if it wasn't out of love you'd be out of a job. "
Brown's family and officers in attendance at Drink House continue to pray for his full recovery and a potential return to the Ferguson front lines soon.
"Great dude, great father, very loving dude, always smiling," Brown's friend, Bennie Blackmon, said. "It's contagious when you see him."
If you're interested in donating, a GoFundMe page was started to support Brown's family and has already raised more than $149,000.