It was an ordinary day. Reading a story in last weeks' Sunday News about a local woman who has had static quadriplegic cerebral palsy for some time. The story in the paper said that her medical outook as of this date in time is unclear. She has already outlived the expectations for someone with her condition. Usually, patients with severe cerebral palsy have just a 40% chance of living to the age of 20. She is now 32 years old. In late October, a story appeared in the Lancaster newspaper telling of the plight of Stephanie Mastriana and asking the pubic to help support Stephanie in her struggle with her health problems. Seems that the people of Lancaster County were reading their paper since Stephanie has already received more than 500 cards to date. But...that's just how those who live in my home town of Lancaster are! They care for everyone, and when another Lancasterain becomes ill, they find it in their hearts to lend a hand.
Stephanie's cards are filled with messages of encouragement and now cover three of the four walls in her living room from top to bottom. She replies with, "I never thought this would happen," referring to all the cards that fill the walls of her family's home. She has recently begun to receive hospice care at home as a result of her body reaching a point of continually fighting the infection. And, sadly, her infection will eventually take over her body. But, until that time, her greeting cards have brought great joy and hope to her and her family. A dozen or so of the cards are handcrafted, like the one of a drawing of her in a pink shirt and her hands covered in boxing gloves alongside her brother in a red shirt and blue cape with the message: "I thought you could use these gloves to keep up with your brother." Her brother, Kyle, has put forward a caring for his sister with the creation of funny videos of the siblings that he has posted to a TikTok account. Stephanie has received cards from as young as 4 years old. One young boy drew a stick figure with a red crayon and shared his thoughts on things he enjoys such as: like playing trains and "I have a Pug named Pepsi. I like to play with Midnight. She is a cat." Some letters have arrived from as far away as California, Florida, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Wisconsin. She has also received messages from Amish and Mennonites in Lancaster County and nearby churches. The American Music Theatre sent tickets so she and her family could attend an upcoming holiday show. Stephanie, a Solanco High School graduate is nearing $900 received in gift cards and store credit at her favorite shopping location - Kohl's Dept. Store. Her State Sen. Scott Martin from Martin Township made a visit to preset her with a certificate of recognition and a small gift basket filled with her favorite beverage...Turkey Hill iced tea. Two West Lampeter Police Dept. officers stopped with a police patch for her. Cards continue to flow in by the basketful. she now gets more than 100 pieces of mail each day. Her medical outlook at this time is unclear. She has already outlived the expectations for someone with her medical problems. But....who knows. If the cards and visits keep on coming, who's to say how much longer she will live. Someone has to open all those greetings...right! Why can't it be Stephanie? Here response for all the thoughts, cards and presents...."Thank you for being so kind." And, Dear Stephanie..... "Thank you for having such a positive attitude. You are such a fantastic hero to all of us who are reading about you. Stay strong! You are in our prayers! Sincerely, "LDub...the writer of this blog." It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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