So, Stegmueller’s wish was granted: She, along with her mom, Kristin; dad, Bobby; 5-year-old brother, Robbie; and some other family and friends will all be enjoying the Luke Bryan concert on Saturday! Her second wish is to meet Luke Bryan — and if anyone reading this can make that happen, please share this social media post on Facebook and/or Twitter!
The Denver Catholic first told Stegmueller’s story back in March 2021, when Frassati Catholic Academy held “#MaryStrong Day” and raised money to help alleviate the many stresses that come with a cancer diagnosis like hers. Since then, the Stegmueller family has continued to receive support from the Catholic community, and Stegmueller has continued to prove that she is indeed “#MaryStrong.”
Since her diagnosis in 2020, Stegmueller has undergone more than any person — let alone any child — should ever have to. This includes: 42 rounds of radiation to the brain stem (12 of them awake), two brain surgeries before the age of 5, 12 rounds of chemo, hair loss twice, 17 rounds of stage 1 CAR-T cell trial, four rounds of apheresis, five PICC line surgeries, one port surgery, 55 MRIs, 70 times under anesthesia, four X-rays, three CT scans, 17 EKGs, three ECHOs, 19 trips to California for treatment (270 days total), 74 ommaya taps (spinal taps in the brain), five walking braces, two walkers, 11 blood transfusions, two chemical burns from medical cleaner, and has learned to re-walk twice.
As Kristin Stegmueller told us in 2021: “She’s going to be a miracle, and she believes it, too.” This certainly holds true for Stegmueller’s miraculous journey. The next time you hear Luke Bryan playing on the radio, say a prayer for Mary Stegmueller!
This article was originally posted July 27, 2023, at the Denver Catholic and is reprinted here on CNA with permission.