I spoke with Tim Renzelmann today, the Vice President of the Sheboygan County Cancer Care Fund. http://www.scccf.org/
I have done volunteer work for him in the past. He's a great guy and a cancer survivor, as well.
He said that he has already received phone calls in regards to donations in Carol's memory. I was pleased to hear that! Keep them coming! Please contact Tim if you are able to make a donation of any size; it is a wonderful organization. Just be sure to include that it is in memory of Carol Stecker.
Also...the annual golf outing "Rally For The Cure" is coming up this August. Please visit the Sunset Hills website for more information. http://www.sunsethills-golf.com/rally
Thank You!!
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Monday, July 16, 2007
Black Is Not A Color
Carol Marie (Breiter) Stecker, 42, of N1995 Wittwood Road, Oostburg, closed her eyes and met her God on Sunday morning, July 15, 2007. She died in the comfort of her home, with her loving family by her side as a result of the breast cancer that had overtaken her body. She was at peace with her fate, but deeply saddened to be leaving her loved ones behind.
Carol was born on December 15, 1964, to Richard (Dick) and Therese (Girten) Breiter in Mankato, MN.
She grew up in Mankato, and graduated from Loyola High School in 1983. She attended Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, IA.
In 1991 Carol was blessed by the birth of her only child, Dominic Richard Breiter. He brought great joy and laughter to her life. Some of Carol's fondest memories were tied to Dominic's sense of humor.
Carol spent ten years working in the movie theatre industry; managing theatres in MN, IN, KY, and WI. Carol loved to travel and satisfied her wanderlust by working in the hospitality industry for a number of years at hotels in MN and GA, a resort in the San Juan Islands of WA, and on a cruise ship in HI.
Carol and Dominic moved to Sheboygan in 1996 and this area became their home. At the time, Carol worked for Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Sheboygan County. Her co-workers there remained close in heart, always, especially Sheryl Schuesler. Most recently Carol was employed by Muth Mirror Systems in Sheboygan as an Administrative Coordinator and greatly enjoyed the variety of her work. She leaves behind there her best friend, Kristi Biederwolf.
In 1999 Carol met the love of her life, Brian S. Stecker. She always said he was worth the wait! Brian was by her side in 2001 when she was initially diagnosed with breast cancer and remained there throughout her treatments. In December of that year he proposed and Brian and Carol married August 31, 2002, in a big, beautiful outdoor wedding in their back yard.
Carol bowled several years on the 'Stecker Construction' women's bowling team and on a couples bowling league. She enjoyed snowmobiling while she was able, and golfing with Brian at Sunset Hills Golf Course, owned by their friends Ed and Amy Kirchenwitz. She loved family gatherings, trips to Mexico, Dominic's drumming, Brian's softball games, Christmas, lunch with Deb (Jeff) Thorn, dining out with friends, and everyday activities with those closest to her. She was an unusual football fan in that she rooted for both the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers. Laughter truly was her best medicine.
Carol was one of seven children and Brian is one of nine. Carol always felt blessed that she came from such a wonderful family and then made it even better by adding the many Steckers to her family tree. In addition to her parents, Dick and Therese Breiter of Mankato, husband, Brian and son, Dominic, both of Oostburg; Carol is survived by three sisters, Mary Breiter (husband Scott Pratt and nephews Alex and Aaron) of Eugene, OR; Kathy Ramirez (husband Anthony and nephews Lorenzo and Zachary) of Milwaukee; Sue Chambers (husband Larry, niece Kaitlyn and nephews Jacob and Owen) of DeForest; and three brothers; Joe Breiter (wife Chersti Hanson) of Minneapolis, MN; Jerry Breiter (wife Roberta Jensen), and Dave Breiter (wife Kate and nephews Mark and Joseph), both of Mankato, MN. Carol's in-laws include her mother-in-law, Romaine (Gordy) Stecker-Bruggink of Oostburg; brothers-in-law: Lonnie Stecker (wife Brenda, nephew Joe and niece Nikki and her family) of Oostburg; Dale Stecker (wife Tammy and nephews Andres, Joshua, Kyle, Jacob, Josiah, and nieces Kaitlyn and Alicia) of Oostburg; Larry Stecker (nieces Ashley and Jordan and nephew Zachary) of Gibbsville, WI; and Tom Stecker (Dawn and nephews David, Alex and Tommy) of Hingham, WI; and sisters-in-law; Wendy Hendrikse (husband Kevin and niece Samantha and nephew Travis) of Oostburg; Julie DeMaster (husband Mike and nephews Arin and Matthew) of Oostburg; Penny Wychesit (husband Felix and nieces Chelsea, Courtney, Mary and nephew Tyler) of Gibbsville; and Debbie Harmeling (husband Joel, nephews Nicholas, Drake, Alex and niece Elizabeth) of Hingham, WI; and also Brian's stepchildren; Becky Lukens (and her children April and Jordan),of Cedar Grove and Brandon Lukens of Plymouth. Carol is further survived by many aunts, uncles, and over 50 cousins.
Carol was preceded in death by her grandparents, several uncles and her father-in-law, Thomas Stecker, Sr.
Friends may greet the family at the Wenig Funeral Home in Oostburg, WI, on Tuesday, July 17, 2007, from 3 pm to 8 pm, and on Wednesday, at church, from 9 am until the time of services.
Funeral services will be held at the First Reformed Church in Oostburg, WI, at 10 am, Wednesday, July, 18, 2007, with the Rev. Wayne DeVrou officiating. Entombment will follow at the Gardens of Peace in the Town of Sheboygan.
Online condolences may be sent to wenig@wenigfuneralhome.com
In lieu of flowers, Carol has requested that donations be made to the Sheboygan County Cancer Care Fund.
Additionally, Carol's wish is that no one will wear black to her funeral. Wear bright, happy colors. Celebrate her life, do not mourn her death. She wants to look down upon those gathered and see a wave of colors, as if viewing a field of flowers.
A very special thank you to Dr. Kumar and the oncology angels at the Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic in Sheboygan. You, truly, are miracle workers.
The staff at the Wenig Funeral Home, 108 Center Avenue, Oostburg, WI 53070, (920-564-2771) is serving the Stecker family.
The Sheboygan Press
July 16, 2007
Carol was born on December 15, 1964, to Richard (Dick) and Therese (Girten) Breiter in Mankato, MN.
She grew up in Mankato, and graduated from Loyola High School in 1983. She attended Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, IA.
In 1991 Carol was blessed by the birth of her only child, Dominic Richard Breiter. He brought great joy and laughter to her life. Some of Carol's fondest memories were tied to Dominic's sense of humor.
Carol spent ten years working in the movie theatre industry; managing theatres in MN, IN, KY, and WI. Carol loved to travel and satisfied her wanderlust by working in the hospitality industry for a number of years at hotels in MN and GA, a resort in the San Juan Islands of WA, and on a cruise ship in HI.
Carol and Dominic moved to Sheboygan in 1996 and this area became their home. At the time, Carol worked for Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Sheboygan County. Her co-workers there remained close in heart, always, especially Sheryl Schuesler. Most recently Carol was employed by Muth Mirror Systems in Sheboygan as an Administrative Coordinator and greatly enjoyed the variety of her work. She leaves behind there her best friend, Kristi Biederwolf.
In 1999 Carol met the love of her life, Brian S. Stecker. She always said he was worth the wait! Brian was by her side in 2001 when she was initially diagnosed with breast cancer and remained there throughout her treatments. In December of that year he proposed and Brian and Carol married August 31, 2002, in a big, beautiful outdoor wedding in their back yard.
Carol bowled several years on the 'Stecker Construction' women's bowling team and on a couples bowling league. She enjoyed snowmobiling while she was able, and golfing with Brian at Sunset Hills Golf Course, owned by their friends Ed and Amy Kirchenwitz. She loved family gatherings, trips to Mexico, Dominic's drumming, Brian's softball games, Christmas, lunch with Deb (Jeff) Thorn, dining out with friends, and everyday activities with those closest to her. She was an unusual football fan in that she rooted for both the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers. Laughter truly was her best medicine.
Carol was one of seven children and Brian is one of nine. Carol always felt blessed that she came from such a wonderful family and then made it even better by adding the many Steckers to her family tree. In addition to her parents, Dick and Therese Breiter of Mankato, husband, Brian and son, Dominic, both of Oostburg; Carol is survived by three sisters, Mary Breiter (husband Scott Pratt and nephews Alex and Aaron) of Eugene, OR; Kathy Ramirez (husband Anthony and nephews Lorenzo and Zachary) of Milwaukee; Sue Chambers (husband Larry, niece Kaitlyn and nephews Jacob and Owen) of DeForest; and three brothers; Joe Breiter (wife Chersti Hanson) of Minneapolis, MN; Jerry Breiter (wife Roberta Jensen), and Dave Breiter (wife Kate and nephews Mark and Joseph), both of Mankato, MN. Carol's in-laws include her mother-in-law, Romaine (Gordy) Stecker-Bruggink of Oostburg; brothers-in-law: Lonnie Stecker (wife Brenda, nephew Joe and niece Nikki and her family) of Oostburg; Dale Stecker (wife Tammy and nephews Andres, Joshua, Kyle, Jacob, Josiah, and nieces Kaitlyn and Alicia) of Oostburg; Larry Stecker (nieces Ashley and Jordan and nephew Zachary) of Gibbsville, WI; and Tom Stecker (Dawn and nephews David, Alex and Tommy) of Hingham, WI; and sisters-in-law; Wendy Hendrikse (husband Kevin and niece Samantha and nephew Travis) of Oostburg; Julie DeMaster (husband Mike and nephews Arin and Matthew) of Oostburg; Penny Wychesit (husband Felix and nieces Chelsea, Courtney, Mary and nephew Tyler) of Gibbsville; and Debbie Harmeling (husband Joel, nephews Nicholas, Drake, Alex and niece Elizabeth) of Hingham, WI; and also Brian's stepchildren; Becky Lukens (and her children April and Jordan),of Cedar Grove and Brandon Lukens of Plymouth. Carol is further survived by many aunts, uncles, and over 50 cousins.
Carol was preceded in death by her grandparents, several uncles and her father-in-law, Thomas Stecker, Sr.
Friends may greet the family at the Wenig Funeral Home in Oostburg, WI, on Tuesday, July 17, 2007, from 3 pm to 8 pm, and on Wednesday, at church, from 9 am until the time of services.
Funeral services will be held at the First Reformed Church in Oostburg, WI, at 10 am, Wednesday, July, 18, 2007, with the Rev. Wayne DeVrou officiating. Entombment will follow at the Gardens of Peace in the Town of Sheboygan.
Online condolences may be sent to wenig@wenigfuneralhome.com
In lieu of flowers, Carol has requested that donations be made to the Sheboygan County Cancer Care Fund.
Additionally, Carol's wish is that no one will wear black to her funeral. Wear bright, happy colors. Celebrate her life, do not mourn her death. She wants to look down upon those gathered and see a wave of colors, as if viewing a field of flowers.
A very special thank you to Dr. Kumar and the oncology angels at the Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic in Sheboygan. You, truly, are miracle workers.
The staff at the Wenig Funeral Home, 108 Center Avenue, Oostburg, WI 53070, (920-564-2771) is serving the Stecker family.
The Sheboygan Press
July 16, 2007
Sunday, July 15, 2007
And Then There Were None
....days left of suffering.
Carol Marie Stecker passed away this morning at 8:10am.
She took her last breath and then there was peace. Dominic never left her side. He spent yesterday afternoon with her and was there throughout the night. He's still with her now.
I know they gave her 7 months, so this may come as a little bit of a shock to some, but it was time. We've been watching her health change every day and knew it was going to be soon. Some of us prayed that it would be this weekend because the whole Breiter family was here. I think she was waiting for that time, and after she had the final talk with them, then she was ready.
Arrangements are in progress and will be posted soon.
Please remember Carol today and always, as she was. With her infectious smile and positive outlook on life. She will forever be in our hearts and our souls. God bless her.
-Kristi B
Carol Marie Stecker passed away this morning at 8:10am.
She took her last breath and then there was peace. Dominic never left her side. He spent yesterday afternoon with her and was there throughout the night. He's still with her now.
I know they gave her 7 months, so this may come as a little bit of a shock to some, but it was time. We've been watching her health change every day and knew it was going to be soon. Some of us prayed that it would be this weekend because the whole Breiter family was here. I think she was waiting for that time, and after she had the final talk with them, then she was ready.
Arrangements are in progress and will be posted soon.
Please remember Carol today and always, as she was. With her infectious smile and positive outlook on life. She will forever be in our hearts and our souls. God bless her.
-Kristi B
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Family Is Where It All Begins
Carol has had some ups and downs the last few days, but she's hanging in there. The nurses say that her heartbeat and blood pressure are good. The breathing still seems to be an issue, but they gave her oxygen last night and it helped. She's also become a bit nocturnal lately, so her sleeping patterns are a bit off whack. The most important thing right now is that she's not in a lot of pain. A bit uncomfortable at times, but not hurting. She was a bit weak this morning, but some rest may help.
The Breiter family said the hospice staff has been wonderful. There are social workers and nurses that are working with Carol and the family members. Not only is this an important step for Carol's well-being, but it's been a huge assistance to the family, also.
Brian and Carol have both been blessed with such fantastic, large families. From everything Carol has told me about them, along with the kind people I have met on both sides, I couldn't imagine Carol having a better support group. Both the Steckers and the Breiters have bent over backwards to do whatever they can for these two and Dominic. Right now the Steckers have been keeping everyone well fed and the Breiters have been able to give Carol the warmth that she needs.
The Breiter family said the hospice staff has been wonderful. There are social workers and nurses that are working with Carol and the family members. Not only is this an important step for Carol's well-being, but it's been a huge assistance to the family, also.
Brian and Carol have both been blessed with such fantastic, large families. From everything Carol has told me about them, along with the kind people I have met on both sides, I couldn't imagine Carol having a better support group. Both the Steckers and the Breiters have bent over backwards to do whatever they can for these two and Dominic. Right now the Steckers have been keeping everyone well fed and the Breiters have been able to give Carol the warmth that she needs.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Home again home again, jiggity jig
Carol is back where she belongs. I wouldn't exactly say that she's resting right now because she seems a little antsy, but she should be getting a nap in later this aft. Hospice is going to be visiting first. I don't have a lot of info on what they'll be doing for her at this time. All Carol really said is that they were going to help her breathe because that was becoming difficult. That will be done with medication. She'll probably schedule regular visits with them and then she can call inbetween if need be.
There won't be any more radiation or treatments of any kind. Carol talked to Dr. K this morn (he's the one that released her from the hospital) and they made the decision to stop. I don't think she plans on seeing him anymore because they had their good-bye hugs. A big thanks to him for everything he has done over the years.
Dominic has literally been by her side since she got home and her family is all coming in tomorrow to be with her. She'll be surrounded by those that love her...all she really needs.
There won't be any more radiation or treatments of any kind. Carol talked to Dr. K this morn (he's the one that released her from the hospital) and they made the decision to stop. I don't think she plans on seeing him anymore because they had their good-bye hugs. A big thanks to him for everything he has done over the years.
Dominic has literally been by her side since she got home and her family is all coming in tomorrow to be with her. She'll be surrounded by those that love her...all she really needs.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
The Fight of a True Survivor
Hello, all. It's just me, Kristi B (aka KB). For those of you that don't know me - Carol and I started out as coworkers and became close friends very quickly. She has asked me to be her voice from now on. I will try to stick with the facts and put all emotions aside, although it won't be easy.
You've probably read Carol's last entry and know that the spread to her brain has put her in a bad place. She got a prognosis last week Tuesday and they gave her approx. 7 months. She has been through the ringer and has told me many times that she wants it to be sooner. She's ready to make peace.
Right now she's in the hospital. She made the decision to be admitted last night, mainly because she is lacking nutrition and the discomfort is becoming unbearable. She's had problems with her throat since a procedure was done a few weeks ago and she hasn't been able to put any food or liquid down. After seeing her today it appears that she has made a little bit of progress and is taking some steps with getting the nutrition she desperately needs. They have her on an IV and she's had some soft foods and drink.
She has a meeting with hospice care today. Their main goal is to make her comfortable and give her the quality of life that she needs at this point, mentally and physically. They will take care of her at home and hopefully put her in a much better place. She had started radiation on her brain last week, along with steroids, to reduce the swelling, but today they decided to put that on hold. Not sure if they'll continue this week or not. Carol would rather not, but the doctors think it's an important step. She should be talking to Dr. K tomorrow to make that decision. In the mean time she will continue the steroids.
Carol said you shouldn't plan on hearing from her anymore. I will keep you updated on where she's at. I know you all have a lot of questions and visit this blog daily to find out how she's doing. I sure don't have that way with words like Carol does, but I'll do my best.
And....I'm not sure what else to say. Those are most of the facts and I said I wouldn't get emotional. It's been a long week for many of us and as hard as it is for us to see Carol suffer like this, you have to know that she is ready to say her good-byes and put the pain aside. She's fought a damn good fight and kudos to her for being the toughest, most courageous woman I have ever met. She is truly one of a kind.
You've probably read Carol's last entry and know that the spread to her brain has put her in a bad place. She got a prognosis last week Tuesday and they gave her approx. 7 months. She has been through the ringer and has told me many times that she wants it to be sooner. She's ready to make peace.
Right now she's in the hospital. She made the decision to be admitted last night, mainly because she is lacking nutrition and the discomfort is becoming unbearable. She's had problems with her throat since a procedure was done a few weeks ago and she hasn't been able to put any food or liquid down. After seeing her today it appears that she has made a little bit of progress and is taking some steps with getting the nutrition she desperately needs. They have her on an IV and she's had some soft foods and drink.
She has a meeting with hospice care today. Their main goal is to make her comfortable and give her the quality of life that she needs at this point, mentally and physically. They will take care of her at home and hopefully put her in a much better place. She had started radiation on her brain last week, along with steroids, to reduce the swelling, but today they decided to put that on hold. Not sure if they'll continue this week or not. Carol would rather not, but the doctors think it's an important step. She should be talking to Dr. K tomorrow to make that decision. In the mean time she will continue the steroids.
Carol said you shouldn't plan on hearing from her anymore. I will keep you updated on where she's at. I know you all have a lot of questions and visit this blog daily to find out how she's doing. I sure don't have that way with words like Carol does, but I'll do my best.
And....I'm not sure what else to say. Those are most of the facts and I said I wouldn't get emotional. It's been a long week for many of us and as hard as it is for us to see Carol suffer like this, you have to know that she is ready to say her good-byes and put the pain aside. She's fought a damn good fight and kudos to her for being the toughest, most courageous woman I have ever met. She is truly one of a kind.
Monday, July 02, 2007
I Hope You're Sitting Down
After the 2 litres of fluid came off my lung on Wed, we did the scope on Thurs. Before scoping I received platelets cuz my numbers were poor, and after the scope I received 2 units of blood for the same reason. Dr Sokhi banded off 6 varices again. That's quite a few. Have had probs eating/swallowing since then.
Now is where you sit...feeling 'off' today so I went in to see Dr K. He decided an MRI was in order and we discovered spots on my brain. NOT good!! He put me on a steroid right away today and I'll start radiation immediately tomorrow. I'm afraid we'll soon be running out of treatment options.
In a daze right now. Not sure what else to say....
Now is where you sit...feeling 'off' today so I went in to see Dr K. He decided an MRI was in order and we discovered spots on my brain. NOT good!! He put me on a steroid right away today and I'll start radiation immediately tomorrow. I'm afraid we'll soon be running out of treatment options.
In a daze right now. Not sure what else to say....
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