Edu Löwen’s Wife Is Fighting for Her Life—And They’re Still Pointing to Jesus
Eduard (Edu) Löwen is known to most as a fierce competitor on the soccer field—a key player for St. Louis City SC. But there’s a side of Edu few people ever see: the husband. The man of faith. The person whose world changed forever when the love of his life, Ilona, received the kind of diagnosis that stops everything.
This isn’t just a story about illness. It’s a story about the hope that holds steady when everything else gives way.
At the bottom of this page, you’ll find a place to send a prayer or encouragement to the Löwen family. We’ll make sure they receive every note.
Eduard and Ilona’s Lowen’s Story
Edu and Ilona Löwen have been married for nearly six years. Edu’s professional soccer career took them from Germany to the United States, where they settled into St. Louis as part of St. Louis City SC team. They found a strong community, a solid church, and a place they could finally call home.
But in March of 2024, everything changed.
Ilona had always lived with a benign brain tumor. Doctors in Germany assured her it was stable and harmless. But one day, her headaches became unbearable. What started as a precautionary ER visit quickly spiraled into a diagnosis they never saw coming. The tumor had grown. Fast. And now, it wasn’t just benign—it was cancer.
Not just any cancer. Grade four. She was given one to two years to live.
Edu’s world collapsed.
This is his best friend and greatest support. The woman he loves more than anything. And now being told he might lose her.
The months that followed were brutal. Emergency surgeries in Germany. Complications. Setbacks. A return to the States that offered no stability—only more hospital visits, more procedures. And praying for a miracle.
Conversations between the two became very difficult. They found themselves no longer talking about simple stuff, but talking about death. About what it would mean to say goodbye.
And yet—somehow—through all the pain, Ilona spoke words Edu couldn’t forget:
“I want to be with the Lord more than anything else. That’s where I belong.”
As her body weakened, her faith only grew stronger.
What Edu Wants You to Know
A trusted friend of both JOY FM and Edu reached out to us recently with a simple message:
“Edu wants the gospel to be shared in any possible way.”
That’s his heart. That’s why we’re telling this story. Because even in the middle of heartbreak, Edu and Ilona believe there’s something more powerful than healing—and that’s the hope of Jesus.
Edu put it this way: “Without [God], the suffering wouldn’t even make sense.”
When doctors gave Ilona one to two years to live, Edu’s world collapsed. But even then, their lives were anchored in something deeper. In Someone stronger.
The gospel is the story of a God who came close.
Jesus entered this broken world, took on our pain, carried our sin, and defeated death so we could live with Him forever. He doesn’t promise to take away all our suffering now—but He does promise that it won’t be the end of the story.
That’s why Edu and Ilona can face the unknown with peace. Not because they’re strong, but because Jesus is. And the hope they have isn’t just for them—it’s for you, too.
Pray With Us
Edu and Ilona have been surrounded by love from teammates, friends, church family, and a city that’s rallied behind them.
But this journey is far from over.
As a listener and part of the JOY FM family, you can be part of something bigger than just reading a story. You can pray. You can speak life into this family.
We’ve created a space where you can send a short note of encouragement or a prayer for the Löwen family. Whether it’s a verse, a few heartfelt words, or simply “we’re standing with you”—we’ll make sure it gets to them.
