Steffes is Caregiver of the Year for 2019 Dodge County Relay for Life

“You look just like our mommy again,” her two youngest boys told her when Jenny Steffes put on a wig after she had lost most of her long, thick hair to cancer treatments.
Steffes said, with tears in her voice, “I didn’t realize that it was so important to them to see that I was still the same person. I need my children to know that as their mom, I can still provide the love and support that they need from me.”  
Jenny’s battle began on April 7 when she was taken to the emergency room at St. Mary’s hospital with seizures that were so severe, she was knocked unconscious. 
She and her family soon learned she had a grade two cancerous brain tumor. Jenny is married to Troy and the couple have four children; Kaitlyn, Cason, Slayton, and Blake.
During subsequent surgery, six biopsies were taken of the tumor, which cannot be removed because of its location on the left side of her brain.
Then the waiting began. 
Because of the many tests that had to be done to properly diagnose the tumor, the family had to wait 13 days for results. 
“Until April 25, we didn’t know. There were a lot of tears. There was a lot of fear. There were a lot of prayers, and there was a lot of community. Our friends and family surrounded us with love and support. So much so that when I walked onto the oncology floor in the Gonda Building, I had no doubts.”
On that day, she posted on Facebook, “Here we go. Positive pants on.” 
After meeting with her ‘team,’ Jenny learned that she had a grade two oligodendroglioma. 
Treatments would begin with 30 proton beam treatments. That therapy allows the high-dose radiation to be delivered directly to the tumor, thus minimizing collateral damage. Other types of radiation therapy can affect surrounding tissue to a greater extent. 
 
“I finished proton beam radiation on June 18 and more than 35 friends and family members gathered to surprise me and to watch me ring the celebratory bell at the Jacobson Building,” she explained.
 
Jenny began chemotherapy treatments in July. And yet, this generous soul still wants to speak to people, to give other cancer sufferers hope. To tell them that their attitude is the most important tool in their toolbox. 
“I think it’s easier to tackle this with a positive attitude and to see it for what it is rather than sink into a hole and cry and feel sorry for myself,” she says.
“I prayed to share my story,” she told an audience on Father’s Day at a breakfast hosted by St. John’s Warriors Relay for Life team at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Kasson.
“I didn’t know how I would feel on the days I was scheduled to speak,” but she said ‘yes’ when asked to share her story about the life-changing diagnosis.
 
But this diagnosis has a positive side, Jenny says. 
“We had a huge plot twist in our family story. It woke me up to what’s important. To how beautiful my life is. It made me more grateful. It shows me how much love and support my family has. It helps me let go of the little things. I’ve had crazy awesome conversations with my husband and my children. It made an impact in my life and I wanted to share my story.”
No matter how she feels, she wants to give strength to others.
“Everything is so crystal clear to me about what matters and what doesn’t anymore.”
 
Please join the community at Relay for Life the evening of Aug. 2 at the Dodge County Fairgrounds in Kasson and hear this amazing woman talk about her journey.