Welcome to our Support Registry. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place and provide our support needs. We appreciate your help and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.

My routine pregnancy labs were abnormal in May and they were supposed to do a differential but did not. In July they came back abnormal again so they sent them for flow cytometry and found myeloblasts. They told me it could mean cancer but that it could also be related to pregnancy, so they decided I should wait till 6 weeks postpartum to see if any of the labs would resolve on their own. I delivered Mikayla on 8/8 and had the honor to be with her and my family and enjoy the time as best we could. Blood results came back on 9/22 that the myeloblasts had increased significantly and I needed to consult hematologic oncology and have a bone marrow biopsy right away. Thanks to the help of a friend, an oncologist was able to work me in on Monday the 25th. Looking at all the results, he said it looked “like the real deal” and we knew that I most likely had one of the six myeloproliferative neoplasms. I completed the bone marrow biopsy on Wednesday the 27th, Wes’s birthday. By the grace of God, the results came in quickly so we didn’t have to wait through the weekend. The doctor called me Thursday afternoon to deliver the news that I have AML, acute myeloid leukemia, and needed immediate admission to the Northside Bone Marrow & Transplant Unit for aggressive treatment.

I left my 3 precious babies in the care of my amazing in-laws who rushed down from Virginia along with help from our wonderful new nanny. I will under roughly two weeks of intense, aggressive chemotherapy. Side effects should begin in one week. All of my blood counts will go to zero so I will be receiving blood products around the clock. My immune system will be completely wiped out so we have already begun the myriad of new practices and medications to ward off infection (which can get very serious very quickly). Once the cancer is in remission and they confirm cancer cells are zero with another bone marrow biopsy, my body will have to make new healthy blood cells. I was in the hospital - unable to see her kids - for almost a month. Following that she had to have more chemo treatments. After a brief stay at home, around Thanksgiving Stephanie received a stem cell transplant from her oldest brother Ryan, who was thankfully a 100% match. She spent several weeks again away from her family, staying in a hotel close to the hospital as she received outpatient care 7 days a week. She continues to receive care multiple days a week at the hospital as well as her 4th cycle of chemo. This latest one will be 5 days each month for 6 months. Meanwhile, she is experiencing side effects from the transplant and immunosuppressants. We continue to wait to see if the stem cell transplant was successful. 

The kindness, love, and support Stephanie and her family has received over the last several months has been the silverlining in this horrible situation. This has come from not only friends but also strangers. Many have donated meals, money, and even breastmilk for Mikayla and most of all so many have been keeping me in their prayers! All of this has made an incredible difference for me in this fight.  

There are so many hard things about this and challenges looming ahead, but all I care about are our babies and getting better to be their mom, my biggest honor and joy in life. I was completely overwhelmed, scared beyond words, heartbroken to leave the 3 of them for so long, and devastated that this nightmare is reality. But it is and I have to face it head on and overcome it. I have to. Jackson is 4, Dylan is 2, and sweet baby Mikayla is only 5 months old. I need constant prayers from my family and friends. And I appreciate all the thoughts, prayers, and support more than words can say. 

Stephanie was stunned and overwhelmed to learn SupportNow named her their first winner of a campaign helping moms and generously donated $1000 to her fund. She was the only mom to be nominated by 2 different people. These funds and other that she may receive in the donation section will not only be used to feed the family but also to cover Steph’s medical expenses and childcare. 

This Support Registry is built to give clear direction to everyone who wants to help the family.

Whether you’re willing to give money, send meals, or lend a hand, your support makes a real difference.

Those who would like to help the family can:

1. Choose from Support Registry options
2. ‘Share’ to Spread the Word to family and friends
3. ‘Follow’ Updates to stay informed

Thank you for all of your support!! It has made an incredible difference in Stephanie's battle!