Support Stephanie McEwen

My sister is 43 years old. She is a wife and a mother of three teenagers (17, 15, and 14). Stephanie and her husband, Aaron are both school teachers. They both have dedicated their selves to enriching the lives of children. Stephanie has a wonderful relationship with God and believes that everything happens for a reason. Stephanie and her family chose to move to Oregon several years ago, they have adjusted to their new lives and love their new home; however, Aaron and Stephanie's families live in Mississippi and Tennessee area. There have been many trips back and forth in trying to take care of Stephanie as her needs arise.


My sister is truly my hero. She is nine and a half years older than I am. My sister was the one in high school that wouldn't go out on dates unless they agreed to take me along. Stephanie and I have had a lot of adventures together and she is the only person that I can tell all of my deepest darkest secrets to and she will be there with me no matter what.  Stephanie went bungee cord jumping with me just because I didn't want to do it alone. Stephanie has laid beside me during my darkest days and held me through the hardest times of my life. She hemmed my pants when I got into nursing school and my uniform was too long. She bought my groceries when I wasn't sure I would make it to pay day.  She will drop what she is doing for anyone and give the shirt off her back if someone needs it. Stephanie's kids (she calls her students her kids) know that they can show up on her doorstep with anything and she is going to do everything in her power to help. What I am trying to say is to know Stephanie is, to love her. She is the most kind and giving person I have ever known.


Now that you know a little bit about her, this is her story:


Stephanie was laying in bed one day and noticed a "sore" spot on her breast, after further investigation she noticed a rather large knot in her breast which was very sensitive and sore to the touch.  She went to the Doctor for evaluation and immediately went for a mammogram, she had two doctors confirm that the two lumps were definitely "suspicious". Stephanie went to have a biopsy of her two lumps the following Friday and the doctors found a third lump at this time. Stephanie got her diagnosis the following Monday morning. She was told at this time that it was Stage II  Breast Cancer and the surgeon would be in contact with her.

She had her mastectomy the following week, at this point we discovered that Stephanie has Stage III Ductal Breast Cancer.  This included the whole breast and several lymph nodes which required chemotherapy and radiation. Stephanie is the first person in our family that has ever been diagnosed with Breast Cancer. She anticipated the beginning of chemotherapy and cut all of her hair really short to keep from shocking her kids (students) with the change. Stephanie decided from the beginning that this sickness will NOT control her. 


Stephanie is now in chemotherapy, she is currently getting two doses every other Tuesday. She will need a total of 20 weeks of Chemo. Stephanie lives an hour away from the Oncologist and at this time she is making three trips a week on chemo weeks, Monday for blood work, Tuesday for chemo, and Wednesday for white blood cells. She is preparing for her Chemo to start its weekly regimen which will be three trips every week. Once her Chemotherapy is completed she will get a small reprieve before the radiation begins.  Radiation will require daily trips for 12 weeks.


Stephanie is so strong and is continuing to try and work as a high school special education teacher in between all of the trips and treatments but the expenses are adding up quickly. If you can find it in your heart to donate, we will forever be grateful to you. I know that everyone is on a budget and must watch their pennies but even the smallest amounts will add up. This money will be used for gas to get back and forth to treatments, doctor's bills and co-pays, medications, help with utilities, and anything else that she may need.