On Thursday, May 19 on the Madison County Courthouse lawn, a benefit BBQ lunch will be held for Stephanie Thigpen, wife of Bryant Thigpen and mother of Brynlee, who is two years old and Tripp, who is five years old.
Thigpen has been battling brain cancer since 2011. On Aug. 27, 2015, Thigpen found out her cancer (Glioblastoma multiforme/fourth stage) had returned. She had surgery the next day to remove a five centimeter tumor. Following surgery, Thigpen was put on Temodar, or chemotherapy, since she had such great success with it back in 2011. Unfortunately, Thigpen and her husband, Bryant, were informed on Nov. 23, 2015 that the chemo didn't work and a new tumor had formed approximately five centimeters in size. At that point, the doctor changed her form of treatment to Avastin.
On Feb. 10, 2016 the Thigpens returned to Gainesville for another MRI and learned that the tumor had not grown or decreased in size. Thigpen's doctor added a different form of chemotherapy to her treatment plan, in addition to Avastin and Novocure.
Since that time, Thigpen has learned that the cancer treatments she has been going through have not worked and another tumor has formed that has grown rapidly beyond six centimeters. Thigpen is currently undergoing treatment and is in need of donations in order to cover the medical and associated expenses during her fight with cancer.
As a result, the benefit BBQ lunch will be held Thursday, from 11 a.m. until the food runs out. The meal will consist of a BBQ sandwich, chips, drink and dessert. A donation of $6 is requested per meal. Generous donations will also be accepted.
For more information, please call Bryant Thigpen at (850) 464-0114.