Community shows love for little Audrey and Elsa

Audrey Stanley

Support for Audrey
The news keeps getting better for a 7-year-old Zahnow Elementary student who underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor late last year and encountered various complications as a result.

Audrey Stanley continues on a great path to recovery following a hospital stay, much to the delight of her family, school and community.

She returned home from Children’s Hospital in St. Louis on Jan. 20, and returned to school on Feb. 10. While some medical obstacles still remain, the family has a much more upbeat outlook for their little girl.

“She has overcome so much and is doing so much better,” her father, Jason Stanley, reported in the Facebook group Prayers for Audrey’s Healing. “There is just no place like home. Thanks again for all the prayers and support.”

On Dec. 17, Audrey was diagnosed with a brain tumor and was scheduled for surgery on Dec. 30. The surgeons were able to remove the majority of the benign tumor at that time, but could not reach a small part in the brain stem due to the risk.

Since her surgery, Audrey developed breathing problems and could not keep her oxygen up to a stable saturation level.

Friends created a GoFundMe page in support of the young girl, which can be accessed at www.gofundme.com/fahqfrnw.

The House of Neighborly Service has also agreed to act as a custodian for anyone who wants to donate money to help the Stanley family in their time of need. Donations to HNS-Audrey’s Fund may be sent to P.O. Box 367, Waterloo, IL 62298.

“So many people that have never met us have heard about Audrey and are trying to help in so many ways and it is so greatly appreciated more than words could ever express,” Jason Stanley said. “Monroe County is a truly great place to live with a lot of wonderful people, and I am so proud to call it my home now.”

The Waterloo High School baseball program, for which Audrey’s first grade teacher Brian Unger serves as an assistant coach, is hosting a special “Homeruns for Audrey” fundraiser on Saturday, March 19. The slow pitch softball homerun derby will be for all ages and genders, with raffle prizes also in play.
For more information on this event, call 618-340-6313.

Elsa Wiemerslage…>>>

Support for Elsa
As previously reported, a fellow student at Zahnow, kindergartner Elsa Wiemerslage of Waterloo, is fighting Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a rare form of pediatric cancer. She has been undergoing chemotherapy and is preparing to receive a bone marrow transplant.

Elsa’s father, Kevin, is an EMT for Monroe County and O’Fallon-Shiloh EMS and is a firefighter for the Berkley Fire Department. Her mother, Adrienne, is a special education teacher in Swansea and recently had their third child.

A successful trivia night was recently held in the family’s honor at the Hecker Community Center, raising $16,000. A GoFundMe page set up in Elsa’s honor also raised much-needed funds for the family.

The next benefit for Elsa is a “Night at the Races” derby to take place Feb. 27 at Gateway Classic Cars in O’Fallon.

Tickets are $30, and there will be beer and wine, live music, derby races, photo booths and more.

For more information, email elsasderby@gmail.com.

The Waterloo and Valmeyer junior high school volleyball programs hosted a special “Block Out Cancer Night” on Tuesday at WJHS. A grocery raffle was held as well as 50/50 drawings. Proceeds from T-shirt sales and the raffles will benefit both Elsa and Audrey.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Corey Saathoff

Corey is the editor of the Republic-Times. He has worked at the newspaper since 2004, and currently resides in Columbia. He is also the principal singer-songwriter and plays guitar in St. Louis area country-rock band The Trophy Mules.
HTC web
MonroeCountyElectric300X15012_19