Stephanie Sweeney’s Tumor Diagnosis

It is with the saddest heart to share that our beloved Stephanie Sweeney was recently diagnosed with a stage four Glioblastoma (GBM), the most aggressive kind of cancerous brain tumor. This past summer Stephanie was active, going on walks with her colleagues and best friends, spending time with her two children Kyle and Carly, and in joyful spirits, as the Stephanie we know. Just two weeks ago, Stephanie had begun her 29th year of teaching with the Poway district with her new second-grade class.

Not even a full week into the school year, her daughter scheduled a doctor's visit due to unusual symptoms noticed by family and friends. That visit prompted an immediate transfer to the ICU and five days in the hospital at the sight of her diagnosis. After days of tests and waiting, the doctors soon announced that Stephanie’s tumor was inoperable and incurable due to the location, size, and extremely fast progression in her brain. The medical team advised us to let her have the best quality of life for the remainder of our precious time left with her.

As Stephanie and her family navigate this reality, we're looking to rally her loved ones to support them in their rare and heartbreaking situation ahead. Stephanie, a single mother, lives with her daughter Carly. Carly is a recent college graduate with student loans. She is now unable to work due to her new full-time, hands-on caretaking of her mother. Kyle (son) and Carly have been placed with the burden of medical and end-of-life expenses for their mom and various new personal and family financial responsibilities as they try to recover from this tragedy.

We appreciate any support at this time and are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of love we've already received.

With love,

Stephanie's family