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Big Steps For Little Feet 5K/1M

Sun June 1, 2025 Oceanport, NJ 07757 US Directions
Fundraiser

Strides for Stella
We are always Stella Strong!

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$7,348

Raised of $10,000

$0
$10,000

Story

Welcome to the fundraising page for Team Strides for Stella! 

 

We are raising money in honor of Stella Boyan- one of this the 2025 Honorees for the Big Steps for Little Feet event on Sunday, June 1st. For all those who know Stella and her incredible parents, she is a very special little lady. She has shown us the meaning of strength, resilience, determination and hope. Stella is so very loved by those around her and we are honored to be apart of this celebration of all the amazing steps she has taken and all of those yet to come!!!! 

 

Below is her story shared by her parents on the event page:

 

Meet Stella a fierce, strong and joyful girl. Her medical story started even before she was born on 11/9/2022. When Stella’s mother’s water broke at 28 weeks, we knew a NICU stay would be part of her journey, yet it wasn’t what anyone expected. After four weeks on the antepartum floor on bedrest, Allie went into labor and Stella came into the world at 32 weeks and was whisked away by the amazing MMC NICU team. Like all NICU babies, Stella’s medical conditions were unique. She has multiple facial anomalies, which led to serious respiratory issues. Her airway was hypotonic and therefore would completely close off at certain times leading to horrific bradycardia events and desaturations. The NICU team at MMC saved her life multiple times and we are extremely thankful for them. She was intubated for months on end and the farthest she could progress was to high levels of CPAP to keep her airway open. She ended up needing a mandibular distraction to open her airway and a G tube placement to help her grow and thrive. After 201 days in the NICU, she was able to come home on Memorial Day weekend 2023.

Stella’s time in the NICU was obviously terrifying but it led to many friendships that the Boyan’s still hold onto over two years later. The nurses and doctors became like family and still visit Stella at home. Stella’s dad works at Monmouth Medical Center and not a day goes by where he isn’t stopped in the hall to ask how their former patient is doing. The team at MMC never gave up on Stella. They fought with her through all the long nights, agonizing tests and relentless hurdles. There was never a time where we felt like we weren’t the center of attention for the nurses and doctors even as they juggled dozens of patients. 

No parent plans to start their baby’s life inside a hospital for over half a year but being with people who cared for our daughter like she was their own comforted us day in and day out.  Today, Stella is so very loved by everyone around her. She lights up every room she enters, and her favorite activities include dancing, swinging, and playing with her big brother, Tripp.

Top Donors

$7,348 Raised By 91 Donors

$525 on behalf of The Members of Landmark Athletics & Fitness, Manasquan
$250 on behalf of Anne Walsh
$250 on behalf of Debbie Leban
$250 on behalf of Jenna Kolarsick
$250 on behalf of Lucy & Beau Cannon
$250 on behalf of Syed Ali
$200 on behalf of Kellee McEwen
$100 from Anonymous
$100 on behalf of Adam Jankos
$100 on behalf of Alexis Coleman
$100 on behalf of Anthony Dinallo
$100 on behalf of Ashley Norris
$100 on behalf of Bob & JoAnne Hamershock
$100 on behalf of Brian Clark
$100 on behalf of Cara Boland
$100 on behalf of Christina and Rory Butler
$100 on behalf of Christine McMahon
$100 on behalf of Christopher Dlugolecki
$100 on behalf of Coast Limousine
$100 on behalf of Dena LoBello
$100 on behalf of Doreen Gandolfo
$100 on behalf of Geoff and Samantha
$100 on behalf of Grace Lepis
$100 on behalf of Greg Heine
$100 on behalf of Jacquelyn Ebeling
$100 on behalf of James Zacka
$100 on behalf of Jeanette Lyden
$100 on behalf of Joanne Lepis
$100 on behalf of Joe and Donna Wozniak
$100 on behalf of John Crescenzo
$100 on behalf of Kathleen Keehn
$100 on behalf of Laura Mistretta
$100 on behalf of Lauren C. Hartman
$100 on behalf of Lou and Dianna Jankos
$100 on behalf of Maureen Jones
$100 on behalf of Megan Shea
$100 on behalf of Sean MacLeary
$100 on behalf of Sharyn Vento
$100 on behalf of The Baldasare’s
$100 on behalf of The Muroskis
$50 on behalf of Amelia Cooper
$50 on behalf of angelica burns
$50 on behalf of Ann Speiser
$50 on behalf of Ashley Beno
$50 on behalf of Aunt Josie DeMarco
$50 on behalf of Charlee and Beau Haines
$50 on behalf of Cheryl Gomes
$50 on behalf of cheryl milone
$50 on behalf of Connie Bocchieri
$50 on behalf of Diane Preston
$50 from Anonymous
$50 from Anonymous
$50 on behalf of Jamie Skolka
$50 on behalf of Jennifer Guthrie
$50 on behalf of Jim Marvin
$50 on behalf of JOHN Ferry
$50 on behalf of John Vitelli
$50 on behalf of Judy Baldasare
$50 on behalf of Karen Ryan
$50 on behalf of Karen Thomson
$50 on behalf of Kimberly Dougherty
$50 on behalf of Kimberly Thrunk
$50 from Anonymous
$50 on behalf of Lisa Unknown
$50 on behalf of Mary Parmenter
$50 on behalf of megan pehanick
$50 on behalf of melissa abourashed
$50 on behalf of Rabena Family
$50 on behalf of Randi Carlson
$50 on behalf of Rosemary Newcomb
$50 on behalf of Steve & Maureen Ward
$50 on behalf of Taylor Thrunk
$50 on behalf of The Bakers
$50 on behalf of Toni Hogan
$50 on behalf of Tricia White
$30 on behalf of Brenda Mandaro
$25 on behalf of Alexa Milone
$25 on behalf of Armena Jehanian
$25 on behalf of Bernadette & Ace Moore
$25 on behalf of Heather Giletta
$25 on behalf of Madeline Gamber
$25 on behalf of Maria Tarullo
$25 on behalf of Maura and Chris Draper
$25 on behalf of Sean & Pam Boyan
$20 on behalf of Laurie Semprebon
$20 on behalf of Rebecca Shimalla
$18 on behalf of Aaron Adelson
$10 from Anonymous
$10 from Anonymous
$10 on behalf of Lisa Cawley
$5 on behalf of Jessica Michnick

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