Help Rich Stevens' Family Through This Tragic Loss

For the past year I have fought myself on starting a Go Fund Me for my sister’s family, I think I have waited long enough. To catch you all up on what has happened, my BIL Rich was diagnosed with Adenocarcinoma of the rectum metastatic to the liver, secondary liver cancer, and metastasis to the bone.

On May 27, 2023, Rich reported to the ER for severe abdominal pain that had been increasing over the previous days. He was checked out and after considering all his symptoms along with testing he was found to have a rectal mass with possible liver metastasis. This came as shocking news as Rich had no previous medical concerns. A later CT confirmed a rectal tumor with metastatic spread to the lymph nodes with multiple liver masses.

Rich was to undergo chemo and on 07/11/2023 he began the long journey with his first session. Meanwhile round 2 was delayed but imaging was done and L3 showed lucency (meaning a lower density than normal cancellous bone) otherwise known as not normal. On 11/7/23 a bone biopsy was negative for tumor. 14 rounds of chemo in over 7 months and the rectal tumor was decreasing in size. Radiation, curative versus palliative was still to be determined. CT scan one month after his last chemotherapy on 3/20/2024 showed new T3 lesion, right pleural/7th rib lesion, possible new liver lesion and increased pelvic abdominal lymph nodes all while the cancer pain was worsening since being off chemotherapy treatment. 03/21/2024 palliative radiation was completed.

Rich was not getting better in fact he was declining faster than imaginable. His back, hip, and lower pelvic pain were steadily increasing over the past 10 days making sitting impossible. He was seen with palliative care on 04/30/2024 where his doctor noted these new symptoms. On 05/30/2024 he reported to the ER where he described worsening back and right leg pain, persistent diarrhea x6 weeks, and fevers.

MRI of the lumbar spine revealed an L3 fracture, and MRI cervical and thoracic revealed a T3 fracture both of which were pressing onto the spinal canal which could cause stenosis, or worse paralyze him. To add to it all, those fractures were the result of lytic lesions from bone metastasis.

Rich was in poor shape and would be heading to the OR for stabilization of T3 and L3 fractures. Surgery was a success but came with a lot of pain, requiring an increase in pain medications and rehabilitation. Rich through all of this was a trooper and pushed through every obstacle that came his way. There are countless stories of overcoming and defying the odds, tender mercies and miracles surrounding him in this fight. He was discharged home on 6/12/2024.

On 06/26/2024 Rich had to go back to the ER after tripping and falling at home just 3 weeks post laminectomy and fusion of the Lumbar and Thoracic spine. Another huge hit for Rich… All he wanted was to enjoy a last hurrah with his family at the beach celebrating the 4th of July, making memories with and enjoying some of his last few days together in a place that they all loved so much. CT confirmed that although he didn’t further damage his back, there was progression of the metastatic disease with invasion into the paraspinal soft tissue and body structures and right 7th rib fracture which were likely the cause of back pain. Additionally, after some reading in his charts it was discovered that the cancer had spread to his skull in the Clivus and Occiput. During this admission he received electrolytes, iron and blood products, and a complete cardiac workup. Doctors were planning on performing a TFESI and an intrathecal trial for decreasing inflammation in the back and to help with pain control but after much consideration it was clear that Rich was not going to benefit from that surgery and was eventually discharged home on 7/06/2024.

On July 16th during a telehealth visit with his oncology Doctor, Rich stated, “I don’t want to give up” and he went even further expressing the desire to continue with chemotherapy agents and radiation treatment. In the end, due to functional decline, he was no longer a candidate for such measures and ultimately was consulted by and accepted on Hospice care.

I have never known anyone personally to fight so hard as he has, and I am proud and honored to call him family. Rich suffered both physically and mentally and was up all hours of the night for the past year in agonizing pain. To say that he suffered is to put it lightly.

He is leaving behind my sister-Aimee, his 3 children, Gage-17, Shianne-15, and Axel-10, along with his step-daughter- Autumn and his grandbabies Mayzie and Wyatt.

This is a heavy blow, as you can imagine, and to make matters worse my sister was diagnosed with Lupus over 20 years ago and she has been unable to work and help provide due to the nature of her disease. She is doing the best she can and will need the village around her to rally and lift her up and to carry her through some of the darkest days she has yet to endure. Please consider financially supporting my sister no matter how small the contribution is. If you knew my sister, you would know her selfless acts of love and her desires to make this horrific transition of losing her husband and the father of her children as seamless as possible for them. She will be carrying all the financial burdens. Rich did not have a life insurance policy and he barely was able to work over the last year, putting them in financial crisis mode.

Gage, is entering his last year of high school, and he is college planning but won’t have the input that his dad was so good at offering him. Rich, was incredibly intelligent, and his most prized possessions were and are his children. He was the absolute most amazing father, uncle and grandpa. He will be greatly missed. He is leaving behind a gaping hole in each of those kids’ hearts and the pressure that will rest on my sister’s shoulders is heavy.

In addition to any possible donation you can make, we believe in the power of prayer. We know that tender mercies and miracles are readily available, especially, when we ask for them. It is my prayer that in the coming months you remember the Rich Stevens Family in your prayers and consider prayers for them to open windows… as the door on Rich’s life in this mortal world has been closed. We know that blessings will come from your prayers and ours because of the furnace of affliction they have had to face.

Thank you for reading this, thank you for the ways you have supported our family already.

Much Love and Gratitude

-Bree