Help Samantha Beat Brain Cancer: Samantha Strong

Stacy Petko Reisdorf Casteel is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Samantha Moyer and her family- ALL MONEY will go directly to Samantha and her family to use as needed throughout her courageous battle to beat brain cancer. 

Samantha is so many things to so many people, but first and foremost, she is mom to James (10), Keira (8), and Phinneas (5) Petko.

Late January 12, 2023, Samantha started to experience symptoms of a stroke and her dearest Mao took her to the ER. After undergoing a night of bloodwork and scans, early on Friday, January 13th, a CAT scan found a large, tennis-ball-sized mass was discovered in the right frontal lobe of her brain.

Once the mass was found things moved very quickly. Samantha was scheduled to meet with a surgeon and oncologist. Surgery took place less than two weeks later. The tumor was larger than the initial scans, crossing hemispheres of her brain. After an 8+ hour surgery the remaining portion of the tumor was deemed too dangerous to remove and possible permanent incapacitation was imminent if the surgery continued.

After waiting several weeks for the pathology report, the tumor was determined to be a “Grade 4 Anaplastic Astrocytoma IDH Mutant".

If you know Samantha’s children (James, Kierra, and Phinn) then you know they are full of energy. Sam’s family and friends have been helping with the kids and each one of the kids take turns staying with grandparents and great-grandparents in order to give Sam time to heal from brain surgery.

Samantha’s treatment plan will be extensive and at a minimum include radiation and chemotherapy which started March 6. Samantha has been unable to work since January 13, 2023, and will not be able to return to work for the foreseeable future. Samantha and her family are going to need help with medical and living expenses while going through this difficult time.

Many of you have asked how you can help. I would like to ask that you keep up the encouragement, support, and love shown and that you keep Samantha and her family in your thoughts and prayers. Another way you can help make a difference for Sam is through financial help.

Any funds received will assist in covering any medical bills, and the associated financial obligations of chemo and radiation treatments, hospitalization, MRI’s, and associated testing and premiums.

If you are unable to contribute any funds at this time, we just merely ask for you to continue to share this and to keep their family in your thoughts.