Effective January 2021, direct financial relief from the funds raised by Steps Together will be available to families for a maximum duration of 24 months. We fully recognize that for most of those we help, the medical and financial impacts are much longer than this period of time, if not lifelong. For that reason, we remain committed to sharing their stories on our website, social media outlets and emails for as long as they need. They are always a part of our Steps Together family and our community of support. Direct support of the Kennette family is encouraged through their personally established methods of giving.
WAYS TO HELP:
Support Christine via Go Fund Me
Take the burden off cooking of Christine’s plate. Sign up here for her meal train.
CHRISTINE’S STORY:
On July 19th 2017, Christine’s and her family’s life was forever changed again. At age 38, she was diagnosed with Grade IV Glioblastoma Multiform (GBM) brain cancer; a very aggressive form of this disease. This is a similar case as Senator McCain tumor, except the location of the tumor spreads between both halves of the brain (aka butterfly), which makes this a worst-case scenario and is not currently curable.
Christine, whose spunk and energy makes all those around her happy, and who has spent her entire life focused on the care and well-being of her family, including her two children, Kaya (15) and Tyler (12), is now focused on fighting for her own life.
Christine underwent surgery on 8/17/17 at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center in New York City. The surgery went well, however this painful journey is unfortunately just beginning.
Depending on genetic testing on the tumor, we will be looking into post-surgery treatments such as:
– Chemo
– Radiation
– Immunotherapy
– Emerging treatments being tested in clinical trials
Initial testing suggests that the tumor is based on a BRAF mutation, which is melanoma based. It should be sensitive to T-cell immunotherapy and possible other therapies. However, these treatments are in the developmental stage with limited availability. The expense for these treatments, travel and care of her children will be high. Every single contribution will help us fight this aggressive and terrible disease.
The word “again” was used purposefully in the first sentence. In 1992, Christine’s brother Kenny died of a similar brain tumor at the age of 16. In 1978, Christine’s father, David, died of lung cancer at the age of 36 (months before Christine was born). Christine, her mother, Dorothy, and her brother, Erik, cannot see this happen again.
We need your help to give Christine and her family a chance of hope, to live well and long enough to see a cure.
On behalf of our sister, daughter, mother, partner, sister-in-law and network of friends, thank you immensely for your assistance in Christine’s care.
Your kindness means more than we will ever be able to express.,
-Erik, Dorothy, Kaya, Tyler, Ralph and Kati