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My wife came home from work today around 2:30 and told me that Stefanie's brother-in-law had cancelled all of his appointments for Monday and Tuesday, knowing she was in her last days. She was gone by sun down. Pray for Chris and his children as they try to cope with this devastating loss. Stefanie was a warrior against her disease and fought it for roughly 12 years, being rediagnosed five times before she lost the battle. Cancer had to take five swipes at her before it could win. That's a five down goalline stand.

Cancer sucks. Rest in Peace, Stefanie. Go rest high on that mountain.
 
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STEFANIE SPIELMAN | 1967-2009
A champion lost
Eleven years after initial diagnosis, cancer claims dedicated activist
Friday, November 20, 2009
By Amy Saunders and Jeffrey Sheban
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

OH_A_SPIELMAN_FINGER_-_COD_-.1_11-20-09_A1_27FJIFJ.jpg

FILE PHOTO
Stefanie Spielman in October 1998

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Jeff Hinckley | DISPATCH
Chris Spielman shows his College Football Hall of Fame plaque to Stefanie at the OSU-Navy game. With them were their children, from left, back row, Noah and Madison, and front row, Macy and Audrey. Archie Griffin is at right.

Stefanie Spielman, whose public battle with breast cancer made her name synonymous with efforts to find a cure, died yesterday at her Upper Arlington home.

The mother of four and wife of former football star Chris Spielman was 42.

Spielman, who died at 6:16 p.m. with family members nearby, had battled cancer five times since 1998. All the while, she used her high profile to raise millions of dollars for the cause.

She established the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research after her initial diagnosis, considering it a life mission to raise money and awareness.

"I know there's a reason God gave me breast cancer, and I'm supposed to do something with it," she said that year.

As she shared her story throughout central Ohio, the fund accumulated more than $6.5 million for breast-cancer research, education and patient assistance at Ohio State University's Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute.

The charity's fundraisers include Stefanie's Champions, an annual luncheon honoring six caregivers of Columbus-area cancer patients, as well as the Buckeye Cruise for Cancer, A Christmas To Cure Cancer and about 100 other community events.

In a statement last night, Chris Spielman -- a former All-America linebacker at Ohio State, 10-year veteran of the National Football League and current sports broadcaster for WNBS radio and ESPN -- expressed gratitude to the family's supporters.

"Stefanie has gone home to be with the Lord," he said. "For that, we celebrate, but with broken hearts. I want to thank everyone for their support. ... Together, with your help, hopefully we made a difference in this fight."

Stefanie Spielman | 1967-2009: Cancer claims dedicated activist | The Columbus Dispatch

dispatch.com | The Columbus Dispatch

How to help | The Columbus Dispatch
 
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she has been a very effective person in the community, as much as she has done to this point in her life, my guess is her legacy outlives anything she did on earth. and for someone who has skyrocketed cancer awareness, raised millions (tens of millions?) and has been an integral part of the columbus community that says something!
 
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R.I.P. Thoughts and prayers go out to the Spielman family. The fight against cancer lost one of it's great Generals. Thank you for being such an advocate against this ugly and horrible disease. Hopefully you are finally at peace.
 
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Very sorry to hear this. What a great, courageous woman she was. She certainly did her best to fight cancer and make a difference to others, and will be missed by a lot of people. Thinking about you and your family, Chris...
 
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Truly a Hero

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Spielman children and to Chris Spielman.

While Chris Spielman was truly a warrior on the football field and life, Stephanie was a warrior in life. According to the reports, she fought cancer 5 times in her life. This is truly an amazing effort. But add to that her efforts to fight cancer through research and fund raising and supporting her family while involved in this struggle is nothing short of amazing. I met Mrs. Spielman and her selfless attitude and the sheer class that was her trademark was evident.

A vignette to explain just what kind of LADY she was.

I met Stephanie Spielman at the Ohio State hospital while waiting tests in regard to my Traumatic Brain Injury. We were in the waiting room and I looked across the aisle and Stephanie was there and I noticed she had come to the hospital with IV needles and tubes in her arm. I looked across and asked her if she was in fact Stephanie Spielman. She replied that she was. We made some small talk. All of this time, there was a young mom with 3 children. The kids were being kids and playing and were quite rambunctious. The mother tried her best to keep them under control, but it was obvious that she was worn down and barely coping. Stephanie, talked gently to the kids and asked them if they wanted something to play with. She then dug into her purse and retrieved some toys and gave them to the children and set them up at a table to play. The young mother was so relieved and the children were playing happily after that.

Trying to be cute (and I was not quite there mentally at that time) I asked Stephanie if she had something in her purse for me. She laughed and retrieved a red super ball and gave it to me and told me laughing not to get in trouble in the waiting room.

I told her that I was kidding and that I didnt really want a toy. She had spoken to my wife and they shared war stories and she told me, that I needed that toy far more than she.

I kept that super ball with me and carried it as a symbol of hope, determination and the complete selflessness of another.
I carried that super ball with me to all of my treatments and recovery.

Last winter, a friend and co-worker went on the Cruise for Cancer. I returned the red super ball and sent a letter describing the incident in which she gave it to me. I told her that I carried that ball a lot since that meeting. After she gave it to me, I carried that my pocket for much of the rehab treatments and also I told her how much it meant to me and the inspiration it gave. In the letter I thanked her and told her that I was nearly back to normal (if that is a term that can in any way describe me) and it was time to return it and hopefully inspire her.

Stephanie cried upon reading the letter with tears of joy and compassion. She also took the time to contact me and inquire how I was.

This woman is and always will be a hero and inspiration to me.
She could have stepped back in the hospital being tired and worn down and coping with chemotherapy. But instead she took the time to help a mom in need and struggling with her children. She could have discounted, as irrelevant, this man she did not know. Instead she inquired to my wife on my condition and made the human contact with me.

This was a great woman, great mother, and a great human being.

NEVER SURRENDER--is a saying that we put on the door of our football locker room. Stephanie Spielman and her husband, Chris, certainly epitomize that dynamic.

Heaven is certainly a richer place today.

God Bless the Spielman family in this time of sorrow, but we all need to remember to celebrate this great woman's life.
 
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