- J
This was the beginning……Stanford Emergency Room- May, 17th 2018 (AML Leukemia Diagnosis)
15 months and 6 different kinds of chemotherapy later……
“Cancer has stolen so much from me and it’s been one of those weeks that everywhere I turn it’s a reminder of what I’m missing.” Stephanie Rothbauer
Hero, warrior, inspiring, amazing, beautiful and full of hope. All words that you will find to describe Stephanie if you take the time to read people’s responses to her posts. She is all of this and more and she is beginning what she refers to as the” Hail Mary” stage of her treatment. Meaning this is it. The final step to rid her body of the cancer that has consumed her and her family’s life for the past 15 months since her diagnosis. Imagine 15 months and in those months having to endure your body being poisoned by 6 different chemotherapy treatments and still she smiles. Imagine hearing and reading statistics on a daily/weekly basis and still she smiles. Imagine looking at your family and having the real worry. Not the what if’s we all have had but sincere wrenching worry because you’re living in the trenches every day with a cancer that has proven resistant to most treatments…Still she smiles...
She is LIFE and she is LOVE and she is HOPE…
It’s transplant time. The bone marrow transplant (BMT) without reaching remission is risky. It's a lengthy process to prepare for BMT and the body goes through hell to get there. High dose chemotherapy, radiation and then transplant. The goal is to have all the cancer clear so the new stem cells can take over and graft without complications. Ideally the donor’s system will take over completely. With lingering cancer in the marrow there is a higher risk for relapse and graft vs. host disease. As scary as this is the alternative is much scarier so in truth there is no alternative. The next phase in her journey will begin September 1 at Stanford. The beginning of her 100 days away from her family. Stephanie and Tad will be at Stanford for her care while the kids stay in Paso Robles to remain in school. Once again, we are reaching out to our community and beyond. To those who have been inspired by her story or feel a connection through someone else. 100 days away will be very expensive and insurance does not cover housing or any of their stay. We are reaching out hoping to help ease the burden of this time away as well as help however possible with the ever-growing medical expenses.
Stephanie is always grateful, always humble, and always hopeful.
“Thankful for my family and friends who give me a shoulder to cry on. Through the darkness I’m reminded of the love and support surrounding my family and I and I’m forever grateful. ” Stephanie
“Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.”
-Maya Angelou
15 months and 6 different kinds of chemotherapy later……
“Cancer has stolen so much from me and it’s been one of those weeks that everywhere I turn it’s a reminder of what I’m missing.” Stephanie Rothbauer
Hero, warrior, inspiring, amazing, beautiful and full of hope. All words that you will find to describe Stephanie if you take the time to read people’s responses to her posts. She is all of this and more and she is beginning what she refers to as the” Hail Mary” stage of her treatment. Meaning this is it. The final step to rid her body of the cancer that has consumed her and her family’s life for the past 15 months since her diagnosis. Imagine 15 months and in those months having to endure your body being poisoned by 6 different chemotherapy treatments and still she smiles. Imagine hearing and reading statistics on a daily/weekly basis and still she smiles. Imagine looking at your family and having the real worry. Not the what if’s we all have had but sincere wrenching worry because you’re living in the trenches every day with a cancer that has proven resistant to most treatments…Still she smiles...
She is LIFE and she is LOVE and she is HOPE…
It’s transplant time. The bone marrow transplant (BMT) without reaching remission is risky. It's a lengthy process to prepare for BMT and the body goes through hell to get there. High dose chemotherapy, radiation and then transplant. The goal is to have all the cancer clear so the new stem cells can take over and graft without complications. Ideally the donor’s system will take over completely. With lingering cancer in the marrow there is a higher risk for relapse and graft vs. host disease. As scary as this is the alternative is much scarier so in truth there is no alternative. The next phase in her journey will begin September 1 at Stanford. The beginning of her 100 days away from her family. Stephanie and Tad will be at Stanford for her care while the kids stay in Paso Robles to remain in school. Once again, we are reaching out to our community and beyond. To those who have been inspired by her story or feel a connection through someone else. 100 days away will be very expensive and insurance does not cover housing or any of their stay. We are reaching out hoping to help ease the burden of this time away as well as help however possible with the ever-growing medical expenses.
Stephanie is always grateful, always humble, and always hopeful.
“Thankful for my family and friends who give me a shoulder to cry on. Through the darkness I’m reminded of the love and support surrounding my family and I and I’m forever grateful. ” Stephanie
“Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.”
-Maya Angelou
Organizer and beneficiary
Theodore Rothbauer
Beneficiary