Caring for Catherine Stanzel
Donation protected
At 10 years old, Catherine Stanzel is in the midst of her second bout with leukemia. She now embarks on a very difficult part of the journey.
Today, Catherine and her mom, Marian, left Dallas to spend the next 4+ months in Seattle, Washington at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center where she will undergo a cord bloodstem cell transplant at Seattle Children's Hospital. This is a cutting edge treatment and a positive next step for the family as Catherine has been undergoing monthly chemotherapy since the leukemia resurfaced in May of this year.
For those of you familiar with Catherine's battle you will remember that she faced the same issue in January of 2014 when she was just 8 years old. She is a strong, beautiful, faithful child with a servant's heart and the will to win.
The next few months will prove to be challenging for the Stanzel family, including their other two children, Victoria (in college) and Mark (in high school). Catherine's father, Paul, will travel back-and-forth between Dallas and Seattle to care for his entire family and tend to his professional duties as a real estate agent. It's difficult to imagine the emotional strain and physical exhaustion for anyone in this situation and I know it is especially tough for Paul to not be with his wife and by his baby's side throughout this journey.
My wife and I are friends with the entire Stanzel family and we are blessed to know and love young Catherine. She is letting us babysit her 2 guinea pigs and her fish while she is away. When she came to visit her pets last week, Catherine took the time to play with our 2-year old daughter and make us all laugh. Catherine has an incredible gift for making others smile as she openly shares her warmth and love. When you are with Catherine you can feel the real presence of the Holy Spirit.
Please help us to support this sweet family in their time of need. First and foremost, please pray.
Pray for Catherine, for the medical team in Seattle, for the Stanzel family, for safe travels and for all families facing similar situations. There is no substitute for the power of prayer.
Also, please consider supporting the Stanzels with financial support through this GoFundMe effort and/or donating airline miles (contact me directly for airline donation details).
I have witnessed first-hand the impact that GoFundMe campaigns can have on a family in need. Please consider making a donation, no matter how small, and leaving a prayer or thoughtful note for the family to read. The times that Paul and Marian can take a break and check-in on the recent comments and prayers will mean a lot to them over the coming months.
Thank you and God bless you.
For a more detailed overview of Catherine's battle so far, please visit her personal page on CaringBridge
Today, Catherine and her mom, Marian, left Dallas to spend the next 4+ months in Seattle, Washington at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center where she will undergo a cord bloodstem cell transplant at Seattle Children's Hospital. This is a cutting edge treatment and a positive next step for the family as Catherine has been undergoing monthly chemotherapy since the leukemia resurfaced in May of this year.
For those of you familiar with Catherine's battle you will remember that she faced the same issue in January of 2014 when she was just 8 years old. She is a strong, beautiful, faithful child with a servant's heart and the will to win.
The next few months will prove to be challenging for the Stanzel family, including their other two children, Victoria (in college) and Mark (in high school). Catherine's father, Paul, will travel back-and-forth between Dallas and Seattle to care for his entire family and tend to his professional duties as a real estate agent. It's difficult to imagine the emotional strain and physical exhaustion for anyone in this situation and I know it is especially tough for Paul to not be with his wife and by his baby's side throughout this journey.
My wife and I are friends with the entire Stanzel family and we are blessed to know and love young Catherine. She is letting us babysit her 2 guinea pigs and her fish while she is away. When she came to visit her pets last week, Catherine took the time to play with our 2-year old daughter and make us all laugh. Catherine has an incredible gift for making others smile as she openly shares her warmth and love. When you are with Catherine you can feel the real presence of the Holy Spirit.
Please help us to support this sweet family in their time of need. First and foremost, please pray.
Pray for Catherine, for the medical team in Seattle, for the Stanzel family, for safe travels and for all families facing similar situations. There is no substitute for the power of prayer.
Also, please consider supporting the Stanzels with financial support through this GoFundMe effort and/or donating airline miles (contact me directly for airline donation details).
I have witnessed first-hand the impact that GoFundMe campaigns can have on a family in need. Please consider making a donation, no matter how small, and leaving a prayer or thoughtful note for the family to read. The times that Paul and Marian can take a break and check-in on the recent comments and prayers will mean a lot to them over the coming months.
Thank you and God bless you.
For a more detailed overview of Catherine's battle so far, please visit her personal page on CaringBridge
Organizer and beneficiary
Jeff Schiefelbein
Organizer
Dallas, TX
Paul Stanzel
Beneficiary
