GWYNETH STEVENS

#GWYNWILLWIN

DREAM TRIP TO
SWIM WITH THE DOLPHINS

$820.62 of $5,000

Gwyneth is a precious little girl. She was diagnosed with leukemia just after her 5th birthday. Before Gwyn was diagnosed she was the spunkiest little girl I have ever been around. She always had a smile on her face and would do anything to make anyone smile. She loves her friends and family unconditionally. Gwyn always loved to be outside doing something and always wants to be around animals. She also had and still has a heart for God and would give you the shirt off her back. When Gwyn was diagnosed she was just starting kindergarten but that completely took a back seat.

Finding out Gwyn has Cancer was world-stopping for us. She had been feeling off and on again sick for about a week. Her primary care doctor originally said it was a virus. Then on a Wednesday night one week, it was a horrible night. She had night sweats and was freezing, she was screaming in pain and hitting her thighs, and yelling her neck hurt. I KNEW something more than a virus was going on within her. So back to her Dr first thing Thursday morning and her Dr sent us to our hospital to be admitted for further testing. I really felt like things were being a little blown out of proportion but I wanted answers. So at the hospital tons of tests were run..they kept saying maybe "this or that" but then all of those tests were showing negative. But her blood...her blood was not adding up at all. All the numbers were off. On that Friday afternoon, they said they wanted to do a certain blood test to check for leukemia. That test could not be run until Monday. That was the longest weekend of our lives. We stayed in the hospital for fluids and monitoring. On Monday they said that that test was questionable and wanted a bone marrow biopsy. I was still thinking that was not the case at all. We agreed to a bone marrow biopsy with the stipulations we could go home right after and wait for the results. So as soon as it was over and Gwyn was awake she and I basically ran out of there to go home. We made it home 20 mins later and I hadn't even walked inside yet when the Dr called to say Gwyn was "full" of leukemia cells. Our world stopped and flipped. We headed back to the hospital first thing that Tuesday morning for Gwyn to get her power port put in and for her first dose of chemo. Absolutely one of the worst days of our lives.

After that everything became about surviving and keeping Gwyn safe.

She missed almost the whole academic year. She was unable to go places for a while. We had to be extremely careful with who came to our home and who she was around. With the steroids, she had to take she became so puffy and was in constant pain but unable to relax at all. The steroids were absolutely awful! Not only did they play a hard physical part but they mentally disrupted her as well. She was completely miserable when on them. When she was not on them she was miserable in a different way. So sick. So weak and have no appetite. She became skin and bones. She was so fragile.

This has been one of the absolute worst rollercoaster life could give us. But, Gwyn has an amazing support group she is so beyond loved by her family, friends, and church. Everyone who knows Gwyn has been affected by her life.

Gwyn is still receiving treatment and is much stronger now. Her love for life is slowly returning. Gwyn loves animals about as much as she loves people. Swimming with otters (or any exotic animal) would be something she would remember for the rest of her life. It would be such an amazing experience for her. It would be such a highlight in life after such a dark time she has gone through, that no child or family should EVER go through.

- Sarah Stevens