About Stephanie
The first thing you noticed about Steph DeGuire was her size. At 4'8", she was tiny by any standards.
The second thing you noticed was her strength. She called herself stubborn, but her personality was made up of resilience and a quiet determination to succeed in everything.
She wasn't diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis until she was almost two years old, long after most children typically start the lifelong treatments for the disease. According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation website:
"Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections; and obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food. In the 1950s, few children with cystic fibrosis lived to attend elementary school. Today, advances in research and medical treatments have further enhanced and extended life for children and adults with CF. Many people with the disease can now expect to live into their 30s, 40s, and beyond."
Stephanie Lynn DeGuire lost her battle against cystic fibrosis on October 16, 2004 at the age of 22.
She was a dedicated student and faithful friend.
She didn’t just exist during her lifetime, she
lived.
She was one
of
those people you could always depend on.
She attended school full-time, held offices in her professional
organizations, and gave generously of her time to friends and
family...all while fighting for her life on a daily basis.
Our Mission
It all started with a promise and a need.