Owen Steinmann Medical Fund
Donation protected
On Sunday evening, March 5, our three-month-old son Owen began exhibiting some symptoms that led us to contact our pediatrician's on-call nurse. Earlier in the week, Owen had been diagnosed with the flu and we had kept him home from daycare. He was feeling considerably better, but we’d begun to notice some swelling of his fontanel on Thursday. By Sunday we started to see some sluggishness in his eyes, so we made a call to our pediatrician’s on-call nurse. After that consultation, we took Owen to WakeMed Raleigh Children's ER. They ran several tests, concluding with a CT scan. We knew things were not good when two doctors, the charge nurse, another nurse, and the chaplain entered our room. They offered to hold Owen, but we did not want to let our little boy go. The doctors shared the CT scan: it revealed a large mass on Owen’s brain.
We were absolutely devastated. It is impossible to describe the feelings of helplessness that rose up in that moment, attempting to overwhelm us.
But already God was working. He gave us strength for the day, and the night that followed, and the next day. And we’re still standing, thanks to Him.
Owen was transferred that evening to Duke Children's Hospital. The next night, most of the tumor was successfully removed.
Owen was eventually accepted for treatment at St. Jude. Over the last several weeks Owen has received several treatments including an experimental drug that is known to target his tumor.
An MRI on April 21 revealed the worst; Owen's tumor has regrown, and is no longer considered treatable. We will be taking Owen back to Kingsport to be with our families.
Understandably, this health crisis for our precious boy has been hugely challenging for us. We've been so fortunate to be the recipients of an outpouring of love and support from our family and friends all over the world. We are so thankful to all of you. We have also received many thoughtful inquiries about how people can help us care for Owen.
As we leave St. Jude and bring Owen home, we will need to begin providing him with in-home hospice care. Amanda and I have recently resigned our positions to be with Owen full-time. We are fortunate to have good healthcare coverage for Owen, but in the end, how much will all of this cost, and how will we pay for it?
Owen has been so strong through all of this, and we both hope to exhibit even a shadow of the strength of our brave boy. We continue to believe that God can heal our son. We ask for you to join us in praying for his healing.
We do not ask for your assistance lightly. Anything you are willing to contribute will be diligently used to help us do everything we can to help Owen heal and live the fullest and happiest life possible.
You can also visit Owen's CaringBridge site to follow his journey.
Finally, a little bit about who we, Owen's parents, are:
Amanda Dean is Owen's mom and fiercest protector. She is the former campus pastor at Apex United Methodist Church and has lived with her husband, Justin, in Cary since May 2016. She attended Duke Divinity School and is the former Campus Minister & Executive Director at UNC Wesley Campus Ministry.
Justin Steinmann is Owen's dad and the one mostly likely to get him in trouble with Mom. He is a former urban planner for the Town of Holly Springs and has known his wife since high school. She was cooler than him then and is much more than he deserves now. (He also wrote this description, just to be clear. :))
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…" Isaiah 43, selected verses
We were absolutely devastated. It is impossible to describe the feelings of helplessness that rose up in that moment, attempting to overwhelm us.
But already God was working. He gave us strength for the day, and the night that followed, and the next day. And we’re still standing, thanks to Him.
Owen was transferred that evening to Duke Children's Hospital. The next night, most of the tumor was successfully removed.
Owen was eventually accepted for treatment at St. Jude. Over the last several weeks Owen has received several treatments including an experimental drug that is known to target his tumor.
An MRI on April 21 revealed the worst; Owen's tumor has regrown, and is no longer considered treatable. We will be taking Owen back to Kingsport to be with our families.
Understandably, this health crisis for our precious boy has been hugely challenging for us. We've been so fortunate to be the recipients of an outpouring of love and support from our family and friends all over the world. We are so thankful to all of you. We have also received many thoughtful inquiries about how people can help us care for Owen.
As we leave St. Jude and bring Owen home, we will need to begin providing him with in-home hospice care. Amanda and I have recently resigned our positions to be with Owen full-time. We are fortunate to have good healthcare coverage for Owen, but in the end, how much will all of this cost, and how will we pay for it?
Owen has been so strong through all of this, and we both hope to exhibit even a shadow of the strength of our brave boy. We continue to believe that God can heal our son. We ask for you to join us in praying for his healing.
We do not ask for your assistance lightly. Anything you are willing to contribute will be diligently used to help us do everything we can to help Owen heal and live the fullest and happiest life possible.
You can also visit Owen's CaringBridge site to follow his journey.
Finally, a little bit about who we, Owen's parents, are:
Amanda Dean is Owen's mom and fiercest protector. She is the former campus pastor at Apex United Methodist Church and has lived with her husband, Justin, in Cary since May 2016. She attended Duke Divinity School and is the former Campus Minister & Executive Director at UNC Wesley Campus Ministry.
Justin Steinmann is Owen's dad and the one mostly likely to get him in trouble with Mom. He is a former urban planner for the Town of Holly Springs and has known his wife since high school. She was cooler than him then and is much more than he deserves now. (He also wrote this description, just to be clear. :))
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…" Isaiah 43, selected verses
Organizer
Justin Steinmann
Organizer
Kingsport, TN