To our friends and fellow Cheeseheads,
We want you to join us in welcoming our good friend, Miranda (Meier) Stephens, back to Monroe, Wisconsin and wish her a happy birthday!
Today, August 10th, 2024, Miranda is 33 years old, living with her loving husband, Lloyd, and two daughters, Sophie (7) and Malia (3) in Russellville, Arkansas.
For the past two and half years, she has been battling triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer. After two rounds of chemo and a double mastectomy, we thought we had the best news possible when she was declared cancer free and was finally able to ring the bell on March 31, 2023. Unfortunately, the good news didn’t last, as her breast cancer returned earlier this year. She underwent more advanced treatment, recently finishing 35 rounds of radiation.
Three days after celebrating finishing radiation by having mocktails with friends, her medical team let her know the cancer had spread to lymph nodes in her lungs. Miranda’s diagnosis has moved to Stage 4 TNBC. In order to be closer to her family, friends, and advanced treatment options, she and her husband made the difficult decision to sell their house in Arkansas and move home to Monroe, Wisconsin.
Although their house is still on the market, they already have rented an apartment in Monroe and will leave their beloved home on August 31, 2024. Immediately upon arrival, she will continue chemotherapy at UW-Madison Hospital. Her oncologist in Arkansas has also given her a recommendation to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN for advanced treatment options and the hope of making it into a clinical trial. Our dearest hopes for Miranda are for her cancer to go into remission and by moving back home, she will also receive the support of her community.
Miranda is a native Monrovian and Cheesemaker, graduating from Monroe High School in 2009. She was heavily involved in our community, especially through music. Miranda played clarinet in MHS Band and Monroe City Band and joined St. John’s UCC Youth Choir. She went on to study Psychology/Criminal Justice at UW-Whitewater, graduating in 2013. While there, she worked with special needs children and adults at Prader-Willi Homes in Oconomowoc. It was also at UW-Whitewater where she met the love of her life, Lloyd Stephens.
After the couple moved to Arkansas in 2015, they were married in a beautiful sunset ceremony on a mountainside on April 1, 2016. While facing many difficulties as newlyweds, they always maintained hope, kindness, and a strong faith in Christ. Over time, their family grew with two beautiful daughters. Just a year and half ago, they were finally able to buy the family home of their dreams in Arkansas, which they will soon leave behind.
We are asking for your support by donating anything possible to help ease some of the difficulties Miranda and her family are currently facing. We know that moving, continued treatment, job seeking, and a new school for Sophie will all be stressful. Unfortunately for this wonderful family, money is tight and Miranda is unable to receive her Social Security benefits until December. If you or a loved one has ever had cancer, you already understand that Miranda and her family need all the support they can get right now.
Growing up in a small town, your friends quickly become family. We are reaching out to the people of Monroe, many who know Miranda personally, to ask for your help. Moving out of state costs the average person anywhere between $5,000-$6,000. Our goal is to raise $10K for Miranda and her family to come home to Wisconsin. Here she can receive the best care and support possible. Any money raised will be used to help offset the cost of re-location, daily living expenses, childcare, and travel/treatment costs as the need arises.
We sincerely hope that you will join us and donate now to help bring this deserving family home.
With gratitude,
Bobbiy Ormond, Brittany (Miller) Cottrell, Dani (Van Leuven) Beatty and Katie (Bush) Coffing