Giving Chance the funeral he deserves.

Hi, my name is Hannah Konetzke and I am organizing a fundraiser for the funeral of Chance Van Stippen, an amazing 14 year old kiddo whose mom, Shayla, has been a long time friend of mine.

On Wednesday, October 26th, 2022 Chance was diagnosed with diffuse midline glioma. A cancer with a fatal diagnosis. They gave Chance a year to a year and a half left to live. Here is an update from Shayla to put it best:

“We have now come to the point in this journey, that it’s coming to an end…

I never in a million years believed this would be my child’s fate, my child’s life, would be my life, my other children’s life, our reality.

There have been some significant changes with Chance. A little over two weeks ago, he completely lost his mobility. Within the last month or so, I’ve slowly had to watch Chance fade away. The moments with him get fewer and farther away everyday. He is no longer his happy, chatty, always positive, always smiling and laughing self. He’s more a shell of who he once was. His smile has faded, his laugh is no longer heard. Most days he’s not really coherent and with us, he’s kind of just there… he’s had a lot of confusion, not knowing where he is some days and asking me if we can go home. I keep trying to hang on to every second I get where he’s coherent and here with us and talking, but they’re fading faster and faster. He also is slowly losing his appetite more everyday, and eating less and less. His blood pressure has been way too high, his heart is having to work far too hard, and his oxygen levels have been extremely low. The nurse came out, did vitals and what not, then told me they were going to have to start daily hospice visits and his nurse would be by first thing in the morning.

I thought my world had already came crumbling down and my heart already as broken as could be, but boy was I wrong. I was never prepared for what I was about to hear.

On October 9th, this past week, Chance’s hospice nurse did her vitals and check on him and then asked me if we could talk somewhere else. In that moment, in my heart and mind, I knew what was coming… she said I’m so sorry Shayla, but there are certain things that start to happen at the end of life stage, and these are the things that are beginning to happen. We are at the end of life stage. My heart shattered into a million pieces, and immediately I was engulfed with so much sadness, pain, heartache. I was being suffocated by my own tears. His nurse held me and cried with me as she gave me the news.

He’s slowly declining, which we always knew was coming but nothing could have ever truly prepared me to lose my first born, my best friend, my baby.

So with that being said, time is limited, and Chance has began to transition into end of life care. We could continue to use the prayers now more than ever. Please continue to keep Chance and our family in your prayers, and wrap your arms around Chance and send all the love his way.

We appreciate all the love and support we’ve got along the way. You have got us this far, and there will never be enough words to thank you all.“

As I have mentioned previously, I am trying my hardest to raise the money to cover all funeral costs that come when it is Chance’s time so that is one less burden off Shayla’s chest, and so that our sweet Chancey poo can have the funeral that he deserves. No parent should have to bury their child- it’s every parents worst fear. I know money is tight for so many right now with the way the world is, but any contribution helps and is unbelievably appreciated.

#ChanceStrong