Steve Chafe
Donation protected
When a Paramedic/Firefighter and a Critical Care nurse marry you wind up with a powerful team of very capable caring people. Steve, a Firefighter/Paramedic for 25 years, currently works for the Orange County Fire Authority at Station 44 on 8th and Central in Old Town. He is serving the community in which he was raised. Steve’s parents moved to Seal Beach in 1938. His father was an original lifeguard with Chi Kredell and Jack Haley and started off his teaching career at McGaugh Elementary School and then taught at Long Beach City College. His mother was a teacher for 38 years and taught at Zoeter School and McGaugh Elementary School. His uncle Al Chafe was a past Seal Beach Police Chief. Steve and Christina have two boys Brody and Bo who have been Seal Beach Jr. Lifeguards since they were 9 years old and they also serve the community as Seal Beach Leos.
The Chafe family also serves with Med4OurWorld and The Loloma Foundation participating in Medical Missions around the world. Along with the medical care, Steve, Christina, Brody and Bo collect school supplies to fill backpacks for the Loloma Foundation filling 1,500 backpacks yearly with items donated by the community to be distributed to children in the outer islands of Fiji. The Chafe family is a Seal Beach family who needs our help. The Chafe family has been there for our community over the years as educators, first responders and volunteers and now it is time for our amazing community to rally around them.
On November 2, the Chafe family found themselves switching roles of being a caregiver to needing a caregiver. Instead of spending a relaxing afternoon at the local theater, Steve’s sudden stroke-like symptoms spurned a mad dash to Hoag’s ER, where a MRI revealed a life threatening, golf ball sized brain tumor entwined around his vestibular nerve. A neurological consult confirmed that the tumor was an Acoustic Neuroma, also called vestibular schwannoma. With Christina’s nursing background she knew it was imperative to get Steve the best surgeon possible. Thankfully, UC San Diego Health houses one of the premier treatment centers for this very rare (accounts for approximately 10% of all brain tumors) condition.
Steve underwent a 10 1/2-hour surgery during which he suffered a stroke. The surgeon said it was one of the most difficult tumors he has ever operated on. Although the surgery was successful in removing most of the tumor there is still a long road of rehabilitation ahead. Steve is now left with 100% hearing loss in his right ear, double vision, facial droop, difficulty speaking, and challenges walking by himself at this time. Steve needed an additional surgical procedure at UCSD - a much faster trip through the OR than his last one! Under the expert guidance of Dr. Quyen Nguyen, Steve had an upper eyelid gold-weight insertion to correct a condition called lagophthalmos, a side effect from the tumor removal that was making it difficult for him to completely close his eyelid. He is home now and is currently undergoing intense rehabilitation. He might also need gamma knife radiosurgery in the future if MRI imaging indicates tumor regrowth. Unfortunately, the tumor and loss of hearing renders him incapable of going back to his position as a Firefighter/Paramedic … most likely permanently.
From the sturdy firefighter who lugged heavy hoses and clambered up ladders a month and a half ago, now Steve and his family spend each day trying to get back to normal. As they attempt to get there, there is the reality that this is a scary time for them. They don’t know what lies ahead, or how long and painful this journey will be. What they know for sure, however, is that they have a huge support team comprised of loving family and friends, who have faith that together, they will triumph over the adversity that a golf-ball sized tumor created.
A huge thank you to the combined efforts of Fire Chief Hurdle and designer Lisa Chernack, along with Steve’s fellow firefighters who have gone above and beyond and have been instrumental in giving Steve that giant first step on his road to recovery by finishing the backyard dream that Steve had started prior to the brain tumor. Also thank you, to the countless neighbors like Dan Bailey and others who don’t even know Steve and Christina who came running without hesitation to help out any way they could.
For now, the medical bills are mounting, additional medical therapies are needed to provide Steve a greater chance of recovery, upgrades to the home are necessary for Steve to have access to basic necessities like safely using the bathroom and taking a shower. Christina, a critical care nurse for 25 years, is now by her husband’s side, caring for him, making sure he gets to his doctor appointments to receive all his therapies and treatments.
Politician Hubert H. Humphrey once said, “The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love.” This is one thing the people of Seal Beach know all too well, giving friendship and love to our neighbors in need, that is who we are AND the whole world knows it!!
Please help us to help our hero and his recuperation by donating to his overwhelming medical bills, rehabilitation, and home upgrades for Steve's safety and continued recovery.
Thank you everyone for your love and support!
The Chafe family also serves with Med4OurWorld and The Loloma Foundation participating in Medical Missions around the world. Along with the medical care, Steve, Christina, Brody and Bo collect school supplies to fill backpacks for the Loloma Foundation filling 1,500 backpacks yearly with items donated by the community to be distributed to children in the outer islands of Fiji. The Chafe family is a Seal Beach family who needs our help. The Chafe family has been there for our community over the years as educators, first responders and volunteers and now it is time for our amazing community to rally around them.
On November 2, the Chafe family found themselves switching roles of being a caregiver to needing a caregiver. Instead of spending a relaxing afternoon at the local theater, Steve’s sudden stroke-like symptoms spurned a mad dash to Hoag’s ER, where a MRI revealed a life threatening, golf ball sized brain tumor entwined around his vestibular nerve. A neurological consult confirmed that the tumor was an Acoustic Neuroma, also called vestibular schwannoma. With Christina’s nursing background she knew it was imperative to get Steve the best surgeon possible. Thankfully, UC San Diego Health houses one of the premier treatment centers for this very rare (accounts for approximately 10% of all brain tumors) condition.
Steve underwent a 10 1/2-hour surgery during which he suffered a stroke. The surgeon said it was one of the most difficult tumors he has ever operated on. Although the surgery was successful in removing most of the tumor there is still a long road of rehabilitation ahead. Steve is now left with 100% hearing loss in his right ear, double vision, facial droop, difficulty speaking, and challenges walking by himself at this time. Steve needed an additional surgical procedure at UCSD - a much faster trip through the OR than his last one! Under the expert guidance of Dr. Quyen Nguyen, Steve had an upper eyelid gold-weight insertion to correct a condition called lagophthalmos, a side effect from the tumor removal that was making it difficult for him to completely close his eyelid. He is home now and is currently undergoing intense rehabilitation. He might also need gamma knife radiosurgery in the future if MRI imaging indicates tumor regrowth. Unfortunately, the tumor and loss of hearing renders him incapable of going back to his position as a Firefighter/Paramedic … most likely permanently.
From the sturdy firefighter who lugged heavy hoses and clambered up ladders a month and a half ago, now Steve and his family spend each day trying to get back to normal. As they attempt to get there, there is the reality that this is a scary time for them. They don’t know what lies ahead, or how long and painful this journey will be. What they know for sure, however, is that they have a huge support team comprised of loving family and friends, who have faith that together, they will triumph over the adversity that a golf-ball sized tumor created.
A huge thank you to the combined efforts of Fire Chief Hurdle and designer Lisa Chernack, along with Steve’s fellow firefighters who have gone above and beyond and have been instrumental in giving Steve that giant first step on his road to recovery by finishing the backyard dream that Steve had started prior to the brain tumor. Also thank you, to the countless neighbors like Dan Bailey and others who don’t even know Steve and Christina who came running without hesitation to help out any way they could.
For now, the medical bills are mounting, additional medical therapies are needed to provide Steve a greater chance of recovery, upgrades to the home are necessary for Steve to have access to basic necessities like safely using the bathroom and taking a shower. Christina, a critical care nurse for 25 years, is now by her husband’s side, caring for him, making sure he gets to his doctor appointments to receive all his therapies and treatments.
Politician Hubert H. Humphrey once said, “The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love.” This is one thing the people of Seal Beach know all too well, giving friendship and love to our neighbors in need, that is who we are AND the whole world knows it!!
Please help us to help our hero and his recuperation by donating to his overwhelming medical bills, rehabilitation, and home upgrades for Steve's safety and continued recovery.
Thank you everyone for your love and support!
Organizer
Lisa Landau
Organizer
Seal Beach, CA
