Stella Monteverde-Cakebread: 2010  

Now 2011 she is Cancer-Free with her new bone marrow.

Our Start of our Jouney:

Was diagnosed with AML Leukemia w a rare FLT3 gene mutation with a 30% chance to survive with a bone marrow transplant. Finding someone to match was a 2% chance because of her mixed race. Spanish and Anglo-Saxon mix.

How did we catch it?

Check out the talk radio show "What my kid has cancer"

Stella had been complaining of headaches and body aches/pain with slight fever on and off throughout January. She did show signs of bruising on her legs only. So on our second trip to her primary doctor at Kaiser a blood test revealed evidence of cancer, and she was checked into Doernbecher Children’s Hospital that night (Feb 1^st).

Our beautiful daughter is beginning a long journey to kick “AML” Leukemia. This journey will be particularly difficult for Stella because her cancer cells exhibit a genetic mutation called “Flt3” that causes these cells to reproduce themselves far more quickly than Stella’s healthy cells. This complication makes it critically important that Stella receive a bone marrow transplant as part of her treatment.

What is Leukemia?  Well it can happen to anyone… it is a cancer of the blood that affects our white blood cells. The treatment calls for chemotherapy to kill all mutated white blood cells (along with all the healthy ones) in Stella’s blood and bone marrow. The bone marrow transplant will help to complete this process. When these cells are all gone and Stella’s body is producing healthy white cells, then her cancer will be considered “in remission.”

So far Stella is taking her chemo like a champ, and we are making great progress in killing off the cancerous cells. She is a total rock star and all the nurses already love her...what's not to love?! She's doing a great job of understanding what's going on with the miscellaneous tubes and medicines running around the room. She's also doing a great job of helping Maya understand.

Stella has started an aggressive course of treatments that will take about two years to complete. Stella is an amazingly strong and courageous girl, and she's receiving the very best care, so despite the gravity of the illness we are determined to be optimistic.

What Can You Do?  Give LIFE it is easy to do.

• Donate blood: Someone out there donated and Stella wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them.
• Be the Match: Cheek swap and be a bone marrow match! Save lives while your living.
• Raising money NOW for Star Nightlight for the children living in the hospital during Christmas every year. Check out the How to Help page. 
• Help us meet our Donor this April 15th. Check out our wears on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/daynacakebread?ref=top_trail

Meeting Stella's Donor for the first time:

We Invited our comunity: 

 Celebration of Life Event: April 15th 2012, 1-4pm Kennedy School Gym Portland Oregon 

Stella is meeting her Bone Marrow donor Travis Black from Washington D.C. This weekend April 13th-16th. We are hosting a BE The Match Bone Marrow Drive (Cheek Swab only) while letting our comunity say help to Travis. Stella got a second chance to live so come on out or register today.

Past Events 2010:

• ROCKSTAR STELLA CONCERT BENEFIT: @Large Studio's staging with music/dance with a silent auction. Buy your tickets online for Saturday, June 5th Two parts: Daytime Family 12pm-4pm Night time 6pm-12pm Raised over $16,000.
• Pasha Productions: Book your $100 Photo Shoot  #503-236-5585 June 27th, July 17th, and August 14th  to help us pay for Stella's Nutritionist Andrea Nakayama
• Congratulations! Rock Star Stella Cut-A-Thon: Belle Époque Salon and other local/nationwide salons join us. Sunday, March 21^{st Raised $17,000.00 from over 61 stylist from Oregon to Washington.}