My name is Courtney Clendenin. Stefanie Smith and I have been friends for 18 years, she is one of my best friends and has been the one I call when I need a friend. No matter what's going on in her life, she always shows up. Raising funds for Stef is the least thing I can do for her as she faces this next chapter in her life.

In January 2020, Stefanie was diagnosed with cervical cancer, after undergoing major surgery and radiation treatment she fully recovered. Then, in April 2021, she had a grand mal seizure which was found to have been caused by a brain tumor. That summer she underwent brain surgery to remove it. Stef faced a long road of recovery, mostly in regaining her speech, and has made significant progress. She persevered, making strides in speech (now at 70-80%) depending on how much sleep she gets, forming new memories (60-70% restored), and multitasking (limited but progressing).

Despite setbacks, Stef made drastic changes to her lifestyle to build and maintain her health, post-cervical cancer. Unfortunately, on December 8, 2023, a scan unveiled renewed cancer growth, leading to a forthcoming "awake craniotomy for maximum safe resection." This intricate surgery involves waking Stef mid-procedure to complete tasks, gauging her abilities. Subsequent weeks entail rigorous radiation and chemotherapy, followed by a year of elevated maintenance chemo.

Facing cancer a third time, Stef remains an optimistic fighter, and never asks for anything she does not need. Stef chose to return to California from Florida to be with family as she undergoes treatment and will have very little to no income during this time. The move alone cost her about $3000 and her lost wages will amount to over $2500 a month. We seek support to alleviate her current and impending financial strain. Your donations, regardless of size, contribute to Stefanie's resilience. In her name, we express gratitude for your consideration and support.