My name is Casie Stevenson and I’ve been married to my high school best friend for 33 years. I’m a mom to 3 of the greatest kids and my 3 bonus kids (their spouses). My favorite name is “Nana” and I have 5 of the funnest cutest Grandchildren ever. I have been a business owner for 20 years and grew up in Caldwell from the age of 5. I have a small country farm with 2 Highland Cows, chickens, 2 cats and 2 dog. I love the outdoors, sports, crafting, sewing, playing games and family time.
In 2022, I was having both pain and a hard lump in my upper abdomen. Dr. after Dr. I was told it was indigestion, gas, scar tissue (I had never had surgery in that area), bowel constipation, etc.
In May of 2023 at a massage, my massage therapist suggested I go to her Dr. to have her look at it. I went without hesitation and the Dr. ordered lab work and Ultrasound and with findings of 3 masses on my pancreas and 2 masses on my liver, she ordered a CT Scan which did confirm I had Cancer. After 1 month of waiting and 5 pathologist, a biopsy was done and confirmed that I have Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer. EPITHELIAL NEOPLASM, COMPATIBLE ACINAR CELL CARCINOMA to be exact. A very rare type of Pancreatic Cancer that only 1-2% of Pancreatic Cancer Patients have. Giving me 6-9 months to live. It was deemed inoperable and incurable.
Those words paralyze you! Your whole world stops, your thoughts turn to the worst possible outcome and the fear and anxiety take over because you just don’t know what that really means or how bad it really is. You just know that Cancer is an ugly disease and could take your life!
Once a plan was made to treat the cancer with the best options available, I was bound and determined that I would do everything in my power to beat this, to fight for more life, to make more memories for me and my family. I wasn’t ready to be done with life. So, I fought! I have been fighting for 3 years and will continue to fight as long as I can. It’s been important to me to fight with family, friends, faith, prayer and positivity and I just had my 35th treatment.
Finding and looking for the best things throughout each day have made a difference in my attitude, my feelings and my energy. Giving me more to fight with. Cancer isn’t fun and treatment has some of the worst side effects. Yes, I have bad days but more better days because I’m looking for them and that’s all I can hope for!
One of the biggest impacts through this journey has been the support, the kindness, the generosity and the love from others. From people I know and from people I don’t know. To know that people care and want to help in ways they can is empowering. There’s power in giving and also accepting (which is hard for me because I have always been a giver) but one without the other doesn’t work. Seeing this full circle through my journey has been a blessing and I’m so grateful for those who are out there making a difference and making an impact to help others when life is hard and knocks you down.
What an honor to be a recipient of such a gift.
Thank You!
Casie Stevenson
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