Author: integritivity

Allison was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer in Feb 2019 at age 38. She had no prior history of cancer and was a mother of young children (ages 6 months and 4 years old) planning out their future as a family. After several months of back pain that wasn’t improving, she went to the ER, expecting to find something like a slipped disc. Instead, she was told that she had cancer spread extensively throughout my body, at the time including lungs, liver, and entire skeletal structure. Instead of going to work the next day, she headed to Boston for biopsies and emergency surgeries, where it was confirmed she had stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. Despite being warned not to google results we did it anyway, and immediately started to panic as they read she had less than a 25% chance of surviving 5 years.

Allison wrote “The first year had several scary setbacks, but luckily I pulled through those initial treatments and got back to a point that I was stable with a moderate quality of life with my kids. We learned to live a new normal, with less physical activities and I gave up my hard earned career to save my energy, allow me the time I needed to attend an endless barrage or treatments, and limit my pain for meaningful family experiences. Giving up my career gives me more time for family, but limits finances for those special family outings.”

This year, Allison is celebrating making it to the milestone of 5 years of survival that seemed so impossible. She has had recent setbacks, including discovery of a brain tumor on Christmas Eve 2022, but thankfully radiation and recent laser brain surgery continue to buy her more time. These setbacks are constant reminders to make memories now while it is possible.

Allison made a wish to take a meaningful family trip to build lasting, meaningful memories for her girls to have in the future. “No amount of time will ever be enough to make up for the years I’m going to miss with my girls (now age 5 and 9), but I want to make the last of our time together as special as possible.  Traveling in celebration of the last 5 years together feels like the perfect time for this experience.”

Stella’s Wish Foundation granted Allison’s wish and helped them with a family experience at Story Land Hotel and Theme Park in New Hampshire.

 

David is battling colorectal cancer that has spread to his liver and is currently untreatable. He is extremely young at only 34 years old. The only thing he asked to do prior to dying was to dine at Hell’s Kitchen Restaurant at Mohegan Sun with his immediate family (5 of us) and order everything off the menu. He already lives in Connecticut.  His sister submitted his wish so that she could have them make it a big deal for him and give him one absolutely awesome experience to remember.

Stella’s Wish Foundation granted a Hell’s Kitchen gift card for the family.

“Thank you so much for arranging the wish for my brother, David. We very rarely go out to dinner as a family, I’d say the last time might have been in the early 2000s, so it was very special to have that bonding time together. The dinner was delicious, and my brother absolutely loved having a night out. He’s barely been out of the house for anything other than doctor’s appointments so he loved having some independence and freedom (we also got him a scooter so he could get around on his own). I haven’t seen him this happy in months.” – David’s sister

“Last night my son, with parents and siblings, got together and had a wonderful dinner at Hells Kitchen restaurant courtesy of Stella’s Wish. I wanted you to know how much we appreciated the experience. Getting together with the immediate family was beautiful in itself but to have a great meal and to see the smile on David’s face was the ultimate experience. He had not really been anywhere in many months other than to doctors and hospitals. This was like a breath of fresh air to him. I know that he truly appreciated it in every way. The work you do to help people with stage 4 cancer cannot be any more noble. It is beautiful bringing this joy to them. David and our whole family will always remember last night.” – David’s father

Bruce was diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon Cancer that has metastasized to the liver. He has been doing Folfox chemotherapy, however his CEA continues to rise. He and his wife were to plan a wedding and family trip for my son in May, but had to cancel because of his cancer.

Their son eloped so that dad could be present. Got married at the courthouse with dad as his witness!!  Bruce wished to be able to spend a family trip together and have some family time together, and for assistance with hotel rental or beach house rental for us to take our entire family for four or five days. They have four boys, one daughter in law and three grandchildren and are willing to road trip and drive our own vehicles.

Stella’s Wish Foundation was able send a donation to cover Bruce’s travel expense to visit with his family.

 

Ryan and Brittany were living in Nebraska at the time Brittany was getting her PhD. Ryan and Brittany just got engaged at Yellow Stone National Park and just a short two months later, Ryan was diagnosed with Grade 4 brain tumor. They had just scheduled their wedding for September of 2024, but after recieving the diagnosis, Brittany and Ryan quickly moved up their wedding date. After brain surgery, a very scary diagnosis, 6 months of treatment (and continuing), Brittany and Ryan got married on March 30th, 2024.

Stella’s Wish Foundation is assisting with travel expenses so that they can travel to the mountains of North Carolina in May for their honeymoon.

Stella’s Wish Foundation is sending Jose a VISA gift card to cover travel expenses for him to get back home to stay with his mom.

Stella’s Wish Foundation is providing a gift card to assist with a dinner for Kim and 16 friends at Guy Fieris Restaurant in Boston.

Kathy’s son joined the Navy in June 2020. Due to Covid, they were not able to attend his graduation from boot camp. Then due to her diagnosis in May 2021, the treatment and surgeries and other medical expenses, they were not able to attend his homecoming of his ship returning from deployment in 2022.

They do not have the extra funds to travel to see him. They have missed out on all the milestones of his Navy career so far and this would mean the world to Kathy and a be memory that she would hold close to her heart to be able to be there when he comes this year.

Stella’s Wish Foundation is providing a gift card to cover the expenses of traveling to see her son when his ship comes home.

Jennifer has had a pretty tough life even before cancer. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021 and beat it, but less that a year later it had come back and spread to her lungs making it stage 4 and she didn’t even know that it was uncureable until a few weeks ago. She has been homeless for a while and her best friend has offered to let her move in, but doesn’t have an extra bed for her.

Stella’s Wish Foundation is providing for a bed so that Jennifer has a place to sleep at her friend’s place.

 

Maya has Stage 4 Inflammatory Breast Cancer and is an avid yarn spinner and fiber artist. She wished for two fiber art tools on her bucket list that she been able to purchase yet.

Stella’s Wish Foundation is sending Maya a Schacht Cricket Quartet Tabletop Loom Conversion Kit and a spinning wheel, The Majestic.

Fiber arts has been the main thing that’s managed to get her through the diagnosis thus far. She is able to take her hobby to chemo!

 

Will was diagnosed with Metastatic (stage IV) Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor Sarcoma in November 2021. Will has been receiving various treatment, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation, and surgery since his diagnosis. His cancer is incurable and he will have to be in treatment indefinitely. He wishes to make many memories with their daughter, who is 20 months old. His wish is to be able to go on family vacation somewhere warm compared to their home in Boston.

Stella’s Wish Foundation has arranged a 4-night stay at City Skyline View King in Miami, Florida.