Support Steinbrecher Family Beat Cancer

Update

We are going full steam ahead into the preventative care portion of my BRCA1 breast cancer journey. Over the last 16 months we have gone through:

5 - Oncology Specialist

1 - Immunologist

4 - Surgeries

25 - 2hr - Sessions in hyperbarics/wound care

1 - Port placed and removal

16 - Rounds of chemo

And Countless nurses, support staff, meals, your time, and so much prayer.

We are so grateful for everyone that has helped us and continue to ride this journey with us. Since I am BRCA1 Positive I am high-risk in developing breast cancer again within my first 5 years after first diagnosis. So in July this year we officially made the decision to move forward with having a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction using my own tissue. If last year’s experience has taught us anything, I have major challenges healing from surgeries and are pron to major infections. So I am opting to have multiple surgeries within the next 6 months in-hopes that this will close this chapter on cancer and surgery, God willing.

Sept 5 is the first of these surgeries. I’m getting a bilateral mastectomy, with tissue expanders. If you didn’t know by now, let me be the first to Inform you that cancer and treatment is not roses and sunshine. It has been a journey that has absorbed every inch of my physical body. Yet, God has continued to cover our family through our committed communities. Through this challenge, He has built in us a deeper reliance on Him.

As we have been sharing the news of the upcoming surgery, many friends have asked how they can support us in this last part of the journey. Here are a few ways you can help.

Prayer: A successful surgery. Quick healing with no infections. For my husband, Elijah, as he takes on the role of a full-time caregiver to 3 adorable but crazy active little humans and balancing a work/home life.

Food / help with meals: Groceries and Gift cards to restaurants and grocery stores are helpful. Cards towards delivery apps for nights that nothing goes right, when we are all too tired or we just need a treat for the kiddos.

Financial support: Elijah is an independent contractor and doesn’t have “paid time off”. He is taking time off to be with me for surgery and post surgery. Financial support would mean that we are not stressing about finances while he is taking care of me and kids. Any support in this season would give us the peace of mind to focus on recovering from a major surgery and healing.

May 2021

When you choose to adult at 42 years old, you expect to go through some unpleasant experiences, but I never would have thought that overcoming cancer during this phase of life was going to be a part of our story. I am a full-time working mom of 3 kids under age 6 (also, the cutest kids, I might add) with a supportive husband who is working hard to get a therapy practice off the ground. How did we get here?

On April 19, 2022, I went in for my very first mammogram, and within an hour of leaving the screening facility, they called me to schedule a follow-up mammogram. That set into motion a string of appointments, scans, biopsies, and reports—all to determine a final diagnosis: stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma...breast cancer.

First, we are so thankful for early detection. If you are a woman over 40, please schedule an appointment right now for a mammogram. Second, we are beyond grateful to have a tremendous team of doctors at MD Anderson who have a very clear plan to help me fully recover and kick cancer’s ass.

I have a lumpectomy scheduled at the end of May which will likely be followed by chemotherapy and radiation. It's going to be a long 8-month treatment with costs estimated around $17,000. We are going to need the help and prayers of our community like never before. If you are able, we would appreciate your help! You can donate below or walk alongside our family in other ways:

Prayer—Our family is truly walking out this season in faith. Please join your faith to ours and pray for healing, wisdom for the doctors, provision, grace as a family, etc.

Meals—A meal train has been set up to help for a couple of weeks after surgery. Feeding a family of 5 takes a lot of effort, and we appreciate all the help we can get. Visit https://mealtrain.com/3dzgo1 to sign up.

Other—We may need help with childcare, errands, housework, etc. If this is how you are able to help, please reach out to us privately as needs may change from week to week.

We know without a shadow of a doubt that we are walking out God’s plan for our family. Even in the brokenness of this world we know that He will make all things beautiful, even in our pain, and even in our struggle…He will make a way.

“Do not call to mind the former things;

pay no attention to the things of old.

Behold, I am about to do something new;

even now it is coming. Do you not see it?

Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness

and streams in the desert.

—Isiah 43:18-19

Thank you for all your love and support,

Steinbrecher Family

Elijah, Christine, Grayson, Caroline, & James