Stella Monteverde-Cakebread:

Was diagnosed with AML Leukemia w a rare FLT3 gene mutation.

How did we catch it?

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?

We've heard from so many of you who want to know (1) how Stella's doing, and (2) how you can help support Stella and her family during this very challenging time. We are so grateful for your good thoughts, friends mean so much at a time like this! Here are links to a couple of websites where you can keep up with what's going on with the family, and even volunteer for specific things if you would like to help!

Go to Stella’s:

•  Caring Bridge web page to keep up on our journal entries, see the photo gallery, and write Stella a note in her guestbook. You can sign up to provide meals and run errands for Stella’s family at
• Lotsa Helping Hands: You can sign up to provide meals and run errands for Stella’s family.
• Stella's Necklaces donated to RockStar Stella's fund
• 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.

If you'd like to make a donation to Stella’s Medical Expenses Fund, please click the Donate button on the right. As you can imagine, the expenses incurred with these treatments are enormous. No donation is too small--every little bit counts... THANKS VERY MUCH!!

Events coming up:

They are in the works! Mark your calendars!

• 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
• 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.}