Sara Stewart Stevens

Family and friends of Sara Stewart Stevens are raising money through Help Hope Live to support expenses related to a catastrophic illness. Sara chose Help Hope Live because donations are tax-deductible and are used only for approved medical and related costs.

50 for 50! Sara is aiming to raise $50,000 by her 50th birthday in November 2026. Every gift moves this goal closer and helps open the door to treatments that can give her life back. Sara is currently able to work part-time due to significant challenges emerging from radiation nine years ago.

More from Sara, in her words…

Ten years ago, in 2016, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the tongue. I was treated at MD Anderson with surgery and radiation. From 2017 through early 2025, life was mostly fine-ish. I worked, raised my kid, loved my people, and tried not to think too hard about the word cancer.

In the spring of 2025, I sold my house so I would have more flexibility and disposable income to care for myself. On March 27, things got weird. I did not yet know what was happening, only that a strange mix of symptoms was showing up. I was passing out, nearly stroking out, having intrusive suicidal thoughts, gaining weight and puffiness, losing teeth, and living with major neck and shoulder pain. I kept working through it and tried to avoid painkillers because I am stubborn and optimistic in equal measure.

10 months in, this is what I know: What I am experiencing now are the long-term effects of radiation to my head and neck. This is the real deal, y’all. I live with significant pain, neurological and executive functioning challenges, and a body that demands constant attention. Some days I cannot move. AT ALL. I remain hopeful that there are things “out there” that can help me.

Do I wish I had skipped radiation? No. I will not even go there. The 2016 version of me would choose it a million times over to watch my kid grow up. It is what it is.

Throughout my journey, I have been fortunate to have brilliant healers and total pros on my case, both in Western medicine and many other disciplines. The ten months of paid medical leave was an absolute gift. A huge shout out to The University of Texas for allowing me to bank fifteen years of sick days – so I could spend that season meditating, healing, and learning how to live with new and uncomfortable limitations. I am eternally grateful for the nourishing care I receive at incredible organizations in Austin, including Moving Beyond Cancer Collaborative, Cancer Rehab and Integrative Medicine, and The Retreat Yoga + Soulful Fitness. These places lift me up and hold me together.

My medical leave ended in Jan 2026, and I was able to return to teaching this semester at 55% – with major accommodations (think course assistants, speech/text software, etc.). As of today, I am two teaching days in and can say candidly that this is WAY harder than I expected. I am being tender with myself and using every new tool I have learned. Even so, I come home from campus and need 6 or 7 active hours of breathwork and nervous system regulation before I can sit up straight again.

My team at MD Anderson cares for my teeth and assures me this is not cancer, but they are not equipped for what comes next. To feel better, I need therapies that focus on light, peptides, oxygenation, blood flow, and neurological repair. The radiation is essentially causing a slow stroke again and again each day, and insurance does not cover most of the treatments that have helped and could continue to help.

So here is the big ask. Will you please consider making a donation and passing this on to others? ‘50 for 50’ is my north star. I want to explore what works, so I can improve my quality of life and get back to making the world a better place.

I plan to share more on Substack about navigating these challenges with honesty, humor, and probably too many feelings.

I have participated in fundraisers where different giving levels were met with small acts of service, and I love that idea. It reflects the yoga spirit of Seva – or energy exchange – offering care in return for care. If you would enjoy support in any of the following areas, please let me know:

– Sustainable closet edits

– Resume edits

– College essays and applications

– Retail, brand, or layout consulting

– Support navigating complex diagnoses

Thank you for seeing me, holding my hand, loving me, and walking this road with me.