Chireno Girl to Donate Bone Marrow to Mom Who Has Cancer

We've all heard of the term 'teachable moments'...and life is full of them. Most times it's parents and educators who are taking advantage of these real-life teaching situations, but that's not always the case...

Meet 5-year-old Addison Czekner of Chireno.

Most young girl's her age are concerned with playing with dolls or serving up a great brew of make-believe tea. Addison wants to save her mom's life.

Meet Stephanie Czekner. She is 32 years old and wasdiagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in December 2015. Stephanie is wife to Robert Czekner and mom to Addison.

She has been in and out of the hospital for quite a while undergoing chemotherapy, radiation and blood transfusions. Due to her condition, Stephanie is required to be quarantined which means countless hours away from all family and no support system can be with her.

Her oncologists have explained that the next step in her treatment will need to be a bone marrow transplant. Finding a suitable match for that usually begins with biological family members, and brave Addison wasted no time in offering her bone marrow to save her mom. This surgery will put Stephanie in the hospital for 6-8 weeks and Addison will require 1-2 weeks of hospital time. The bone marrow transplant will be very costly and the family will not only have to pay for Stephanie’s bills and surgery, but they will also be paying for Addison’s as well.

There will be a huge fundraiser this Saturday, October 8th at the Ayish Hall in San Augustine. There will be something for all family members. BBQ plates and 'Fighting for Steph' T-shirts will be on sale. Plus, there will be a bounce house, train rides, face painting and snow cones for the kids. You can bid on over 70 silent auction items, including two sold out Reba McIntyre concert tickets with a two night hotel stay in Oklahoma. Other auction items include an autographed Pat Green guitar, deer mounts, stainless steel cut outs, barn wood furniture, holiday decor and many themed baskets.

A Go Fund Me account has also set up to help offset medical expenses.