Help Rachel Stephens Hale Fight Breast Cancer

Hey Friends and Family -

I hope everyone is well and finding peace and joy during the holidays.

My family and I are writing to you and organizing this fundraiser on behalf of my incredible sister, Rachel Stephens Hale and her husband, Jacob Hale. As many of you know, Rachel has been battling breast cancer since 2020, and our hope with this fundraiser is for Rachel and Jacob’s community to come together to support them and ease some of the financial burden that has resulted from her cancer diagnosis.

Before I write anything else, I just want to acknowledge that Rachel and Jacob, myself, and our family have already experienced an outpouring of prayers, love, and emotional support over the past two years that has meant so much and has made such a difference as Rachel has journeyed through this. We recognize that not everyone reading this will be in a place where making a financial donation is feasible, and that’s okay. Sharing this link, sending words of encouragement, and saying a prayer for Rachel is just as impactful. In fact, prayer is the most valuable form of love and support you can give them.

Here are some details about Rachel’s cancer journey over the last few years:

In July 2020, right before her 30th birthday, Rachel received her initial diagnosis of Stage 1 triple negative breast cancer after discovering an abnormality in her right breast. After chemo, radiation, surgery, and other medications, Rachel showed no evidence of disease in fall of 2021. In March 2022, Rachel went in for a routine scan and they found that the cancer had returned, metastasized on her lung. We learned that this means the cancer is Stage 4 (terminal). This was a really devastating update, especially so soon after we thought the cancer was gone. Rachel has spent the last year going through additional rounds of chemo and radiation, and immunotherapy.

After suffering inflammation in her lung (coughing, difficulty breathing, etc.) Rachel’s oncologist has taken her off immunotherapy for now. She has frequent appointments to monitor the cancer and will likely go on another chemo drug/form of treatment in the future as needed.

Rachel and Jacob made the decision for Rachel to take a break from working at the end of this year. Rachel jokingly calls it early retirement. She’s remained employed since her initial diagnosis years ago and has had flexibility to work from home and attend her many doctor appointments. This year has been extremely tough on her physically and emotionally. She’s had side effects from the cancer and all the treatments, including migraines, inflammation, coughing, and muscle pain. Taking extended time away from work will allow her to focus on her health, treatment plan, and her family. While there is still so much uncertainty about Rachel’s long term prognosis, she wants to spend her time with her people and doing the things that matter most to her, including visiting out-of-state family and enrolling in classes.

This Gofundme will help Rachel and Jacob as they navigate life moving forward. Any donations they receive will go towards medical bills, ongoing treatment, and general cost of living as they adjust to Rachel’s hiatus from work. Thankfully, Rachel will be covered under Jacob’s insurance and she should be eligible for long term disability, though there is a waiting period for that to get approved.

You can donate securely through this platform, but if you’re wanting to donate but uncomfortable with doing so through GFM, please reach out to myself, Rachel, or Jacob directly.

The last thing I want to acknowledge is that while we all know cancer is a devastating and cruel disease, our family is not without hope. I pray and hope for the day cancer is gone from this earth. This has personally been one of the harder years of my life, but I’m constantly encouraged by the medical advancements and innovative cancer treatments that are being developed every year. More than this, I am encouraged by the resilience and strength Rachel has shown as she has fought the cancer. Her faith has guided her perspective, and when I talk to her I’m consistently reminded of Psalm 16. I’m thankful that, despite the cancer, Rachel has lived life to the fullest - traveling when she is able, singing and playing music at her church, raising farm animals with Jacob, and being a blessing to all her friends and family. What a joy she is!

Thank you again - I wish everyone a blessed, happy and healthy 2023.

Kristen Stephens Gresham