Hello everyone, my name is Shayla Van Stippen, I am Chance Van Stippen’s mom. I am creating this gofund me in hopes to raise funds to buy Chance a plot and a beautiful headstone that he deserves. We are still currently paying on Chance’s funeral, but we are really hoping to have the funds raised by this late spring when the foundations and headstones can be placed. Although we did cremate Chance to keep him in the home with us, we still wanted to give him a resting spot and headstone. He was so special to all that knew him, we want to honor him in a way he truly deserves. We want to give everyone a place to go and sit, talk and visit with him, a place to pay their respects. I want his existence to forever be known and never forgotten. I know Chance is still here and watching over the ones he loves, and I know it’d bring him comfort to see the ones he loved visit his headstone. I know it might not make sense why I would want to get him a plot and headstone, but it makes sense to me, and it feels like the right way to make sure he’s never forgotten and gives us a place to go and talk to him alone as well. All funds raised will go towards the plot, and the headstone. If there are any left over funds, then we would like to pay it forward and make a donation to a charity that supports childhood cancer. Lastly— we hope to start a foundation in Chance’s honor someday to help show the love and support we were given. Here’s a little on Chance’s story…. Chance was born on March 6th, 2009– and day he was born I was forever changed for the better. He saved me more times than I could ever count. Chance was the brightest shinning light always helping guide you out of the dark. He was a lover and friend to ALL he met. He truley was the most incredible young man ever. He was wise beyond his years, and he was loving and accepting of every single person. Chance wanted to change the world, make an impact, and above all wanted to help people. He loved to use his own money to the donate to the homeless, or buying the homeless meals. He loved to spoil his little sister, and little brother. Chance never thought of himself first, everyone else was always before himself. He would do anything for anyone, and he was always a shoulder to cry on, or a listening ear to anyone who needed it. He poured love out more than I’ve ever seen. I knew from an early age that he was going to touch lives and make a difference, and that he did— in just his 14 years of life. A little background on our last 15 months of life and Chance’s diagnosis— Chance was diagnosed with diffused midline glioma cancer at just 13 years old… On September 22nd, I brought Chance into his pediatrician to have him seen because I was worried and sensed something deeper was going on. (A little back story— After the first day of school on the 2nd, Chance came home not feeling well complaining of a headache and began vomitting. He remained sick into the weekend and into that following week. I kept him home from school his whole first week of school. I thought he had the flu due to the vomitting and not being able to keep anything down. He suddenly started to come out of it the 10th and was feeling better and stopped vomitting and his headache was gone. When he woke up from being sick for that week— I immediately noticed his left eye was “googly” and was lazy and he would go cross eyed, his eye was never like this prior and he was complaining of seeing double vision out of that eye, and getting dizzy. (I tried calling to get him into the eye dr (assuming that was who needed to be seen) and they told me it was NOT an emergency and I couldn’t get him in for an emergency visit, so the next appointment wasn’t available until November 3rd. )That Monday came and I kept him home from school for one last day to make sure he was okay before sending him back, he went back to school on the 13th. It was two days later that he started to wake up everyday with a headache and would take ibuprofen to try and help it and would go to school. He would come home and be okay but then a few hours after getting home he would get a spell of nausea and would vomit. All that week I continued trying to call to get him in for an earlier appt at the eye dr, and was continually told it was not an emergency and had to wait until his November 3rd appt. I finally got so fed up I decided I would call his pediatrician to get him in there and see if he could do anything. In my heart, I had a feeling something serious was going on due to his eye and the fact it’s right by the brain, but I didn’t want to believe it. On the 22nd, we arrived to his doctor appointment at 730 am, and waited till his appointment at 8. The Dr did a normal check over, doing a little more of an extensive one. He then ordered a bunch of lab work, and made the call we needed to do an MRI. We did the lab work and then he went in for his MRI, when he came walking out from his MRI I immediately noticed they had left an IV connection is, my heart sunk and I knew something was coming. The nurse then told me I needed to go upstairs immediately to get the results, we were not to leave, we had to be seen. We went up stairs to his pediatrician, and that’s when I got the heart shattering news. They found extra fluid on Chance’s brain that wasn’t suppose to be there. And that wasn’t all, they found a tumor 4 inches in diameter. We were then told we would be transferring to Milwaukee hospital where a team of neurosurgeon’s and neuro doctors would be taking care of him. Within hours of getting to Children’s Milwaukee, I had met so many dr’s, and received so much information. He went in for his first emergency surgery that night. The first surgery was to put a tube in his head to help drain the spinal fluid build up that was being blocked from draining properly because of the tumor which was causing the build up & causing a lot of pressure in his brain. So they placed a tube in his brain, and while in there they did try to create a new pathway for the spinal fluid to drain correctly so that we could hopefully avoid another surgery of placing a permanent shunt in. He did well with those. On Tuesday the 27th, Chance went in for his second brain surgery. This surgery was to get a biopsy of the tumor so that we can definitively determine what kind of tumor it is. He was placed in the ICU after his second surgery to make sure their was no bleeding in his brain after the surgery and to keep an eye on his vision on the right side and his ability to move the right side. (There was the risk of losing or affecting one of the two with the biopsy). His neurosurgeon did explain to me that because of the location of his tumor, it’s unlikely to be able to remove any of it, so our best treatment may be radiation. And if the biopsy comes back that based off the kind of tumor/cancer it is that the best option is to try and remove as much as possible— in that choice I would be having to chose as a parent what I prefer him to lose, the ability to move the right side of his body, or his vision. Days later, I had to make the hardest decision ever. Chance was rapidly going down hill with the increased symptoms and such. So the doctors decided that taking the risk and removing as much of the tumor was something we needed to do if I allowed it. So I took the risk of him losing his peripheral vision, his speech, his motor skills on his right side, and his strength and speed on his right side, along with memory issues. The surgery went well, and they removed as much as they safely could, which ended up being about 70% of it. Chance then went on to have his fourth and final brain surgery, getting a permanent shunt put in. He worked hard on regaining his strength and walking again. On October 7th, 2024, we were able to return home. Chance was so happy to be back in the comfort of his own home and having all of us together again. Just 3 days later we would lose everything we’ve ever had, and our home in a house fire that was caused by a grease fire that quickly got out of control. Within two months our life had been completely turned upside down. My oldest child being diagnosed with a terminal brain cancer, and then losing everything we’ve ever had and our home. The community rallied around us, and donated money, clothes, housing items, foods, gas cards— and so much more. If it wasn’t for our community, I don’t know how we would have made it through. They went above and beyond for us, and we are so eternally grateful. At the end of November, Chance began his first round of radiation. He did 6 weeks of radiation treatment— in hopes to shrink the tumor and add some time onto his life to spend, and we were hoping and praying with everything that we would find something that would work— something to save my baby. Chance finished his first round of radiation on January 3rd, 2024. We had shrank the tumor a significant amount and more than expected. We were ecstatic and so hopeful. When we had his 6 week post op radiation appointment, we were still met with great news, his tumor had shrank a little more and hadn’t began to grow back. Two days later one of Chance’s life long dreams came true— he was sworn in as an honorary police officer with Menasha Police Station. It was the best day of his life. Then in May, Chance was granted his wish. We were able to take our first family trip, the kids first time on an airplane, and we went to Florida. We went to Universal Studios, Sea World, Legoland, and Disney land. Another dream come true for Chance. Soon after returning home, Chance’s symptoms started to heighten again, and new symptoms emerged. When it was time for his 6 month post op radiation appointment and MRI— we were met with devestating news. There was a new mass in his brain, and the cancer had spread to his spine. He was going to start losing his ability to walk, and slowly lose his function in his hand. We were then told it was time to put my baby on hospice at home— so he could live his final months out in the comfort of his home with the ones he loved most. We did decide to do a second round of radiation, the only reason being was selfishly we wanted more time with him, and Chance desperately wanted to do another round, never losing faith that God was going to save him and he was going to be a miracle kid who survived a cancer that is supposed to be terminal… He completed his 4 weeks of his second round of radiation, and then was put on hospice at home where I cared for him around the clock. Chance quickly went down hill after being put on hospice, it wasn’t a month after being put on hospice that his feet began to tingle and he couldn’t always feel them, then his hands began to tingle.. and then his knees began to buckle and his legs slowly started to give out on him. Before we knew it, my baby could no longer walk. The next few months we spent soaking up every second, watching so many random tv shows that he would get me into, listening to music, reading to him. There was many times that we didn’t think he was going to make it through the week, or weekend, but he always would bounce back. He fought SO hard, he didn’t ever give up. He so badly wanted to live, he didn’t want to die— but he never was afraid to die, because he always told me, “momma I know where I’m going— heaven”. Chance’s only fear was what would happen to his momma if he passed, he didn’t wanna leave his momma. We got to have one final Christmas with Chance, and it is something we cherish. We know he held on and fought as hard as he could to give us that one last special holiday together… On January 12th, 2024– Chance lost his battle to his brain cancer and he took his final breath surrounded by loved ones. Chance fought bravely, fiercely, and furiously, never once letting cancer take away his lively, always happy, always looking at the positives spirit. His whole battle, you never saw him without a smile. He impacted and encouraged so many people. He’s touched the lives of all those around him. Thank you for all the prayers, love, and support during this nightmare. We are forever thankful for this incredible community that wrapped their arms around Chance and my family. Words could truly never express our love and gratitude.
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