Chloe’s Cancer Journey
It was a cold winter day in Gillette, Wyoming, when Katey Stevenson took her beautiful 6-month-old daughter Chloe to her pediatrician for a routine wellness exam. Katey had no concerns on that day in 2021, but as the physician’s assistant was examining Chloe’s stomach, she felt a lump and sought further opinion from the pediatrician. Chloe was rushed to an ultrasound, where her stomach revealed a 10-centimeter mass.
“We thought it was going to be a simple 20-minute appointment,†said Katey. But what was supposed to be a quick in-and-out appointment turned into Chloe being life-flighted to Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children in Denver, where tests, scans and biopsies brought to reality the Stevensons’ worst fear. Chloe was diagnosed with high-risk, Stage-4 Neuroblastoma, an aggressive form of cancer that required urgent attention.
Because Wyoming does not have a pediatric cancer facility, the Stevenson family faced the daunting reality of leaving their home, jobs and other responsibilities behind in order to get Chloe the treatment she needed in Denver. Within the first week of her diagnosis, Jason’s Friends Foundation stepped in to help with household bills, lodging, travel expenses and other financial stressors to allow the Stevensons to focus on what was most important — Chloe.
“You’re going through so many things,†said Chloe’s dad, Dave Stevenson. “To have Jason’s Friends lift that extra weight of things like your mortgage off your plate, it’s a huge weight off your shoulders.â€
After arriving in Denver, sweet, little Chloe immediately underwent five rounds of chemotherapy and a surgery to remove 99% of the tumor in her abdomen. Then, at 11 months old, Chloe fought through a bone marrow transplant to eradicate any of the tumor that remained.
Shortly after Chloe’s first birthday, new scans revealed a whole new set of tumors. Because of the rarity of such an occurrence, typical treatment was no longer an option, so her family and medical team began exploring experimental treatment options.
Tragically, the new treatments were ineffective, and the Stevensons had to make the heart-wrenching decision to stop all treatments as they were doing more harm than good. On Oct. 13, 2022, at the precious age of 15 and a half months old, Chloe took her final breaths at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children surrounded by love and prayers, but most of all peace. She was a warrior against cancer for the majority of her life and made a lasting impact on everyone who met her, including the staff of Jason’s Friends Foundation.
Throughout Chloe’s brave battle, Jason’s Friends remained a steady source of support and comfort to the Stevenson family during their chaotic and heartbreaking journey.
“Truly, Jason’s Friends provided Dave and I the last 10 and a half months with our daughter,†said Katey Stevenson. “They took care of us in the beginning, within a week of our diagnosis, to the end. There’s nothing in this world that we could ever do to repay them for the time they gave us with our daughter.â€
27th Annual Bowl for Jason’s Friends
Because of Jason’s Friends Foundation, families are able to be with their sick child as they fight the most difficult battle of their lives. Without any pediatric oncology facilities locally, these families must travel to a neighboring state, or sometimes much further, for the lifesaving treatment they desperately need. The financial burden this places on them cannot be understated.
The 170 Wyoming families that are part of the program receive financial assistance for travel, lodging, household bills, car payments and repairs and more as their child endures cancer, brain tumors or spinal cord tumors. Since its founding, Jason’s Friends has provided over $8.2 million of financial assistance. But they cannot do it without support from the community.
Bowl for Jason’s Friends is the organization’s only fundraiser for the year. Last year, the fundraiser raised more than $400,000, and this year the foundation hopes to surpass that number.
The event will take place at El Mark-O Lanes in Casper on Saturday, March 1. Bowlers put together five-person teams, sign up for a one-hour bowling time slot and collect donations prior to bowling. Each bowler must raise at least $100 to participate and to receive a free T-shirt. There are prizes available for those who bring in the most donations.
For the third year, Jason’s Friends will also be hosting Bowl for Jason’s Friends in Gillette on Saturday, March 1 from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Camelanes Bowling Center. The event has been a huge success the last two years, thanks in large part to the Stevenson family and their help organizing the Gillette event. Jason’s Friends is excited to see the Gillette community come out to honor Chloe’s memory and support the many children of Jason’s Friends.
Bowling and team fundraising packets can be picked up at El Mark-O Lanes and the Jason’s Friends Foundation office at 1701 East E St., Suite 100, or be printed at . For more information and to sign up a fundraising team, visit or contact Jason’s Friends at 307-235-3421.
SPONSORED IN KIND BY JASON’S FRIENDS FOUNDATION
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