Stephanie Sara Philip was diagnosed with juvenile renal cell carcinoma in 2005, around the date of her 18th birthday.  At the time of her diagnosis, her cancer had already metastasized and Stephanie’s condition was given the status of Stage IV.  She survived with this cancer for over six years, which is rarely heard of within this cancer. 

In spite of her condition she managed to lead her life the way she wanted to, with a love of life. She continued her education, graduated from high school in 2006, and then graduated from Texas A& M University in 2010, with a degree in Political Science. She began working towards her Masters in Social Work in 2011, but was only able to complete one semester. 

Through her continued interactions with people around her, she showed many on how to take advantage of the chances that God has given us. She was a living example of being appreciative and grateful for every blessing and talent we are bestowed with.  She lived to help and assist others.  Stephanie had a great sense of humor and loved to make others laugh all the time. Her faith and her smile were contagious and helped everyone around her to not concentrate on her sickness but to treat her as you would others. All Stephanie wanted was to be treated as a normal person, not a cancer stricken young adult. 

Even though the Lord took her life back on December 12, 2011, she survives in the memories of all people who were blessed to be a part of her life.  Her legacy survives through the creation and continuation of this foundation, which aims to fund the research into Juvenile Renal Cell carcinoma.