Mom & Advocate
S T E P H A N I E H AW K I N S Sales Manager at Ashley Office Systems Stephanie Hawkins grew up in Texarkana, Texas, and after graduation from Pleasant Grove High School, she attended Henderson State University. Her very first job was at Ashley Office Systems, and she still works there today. In 2009, her daughter, Meagan Mauldin, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare cancer of the bone. In the years that followed, Stephanie rarely left Meagan’s side as they faced many trials as a family. When Meagan passed in 2012, even though Stephanie was grieving, she wanted to help other families who were facing the same struggles. She started a fund, The Meagan Mauldin Love For the Cure, to help other families who are facing a cancer diagnosis or other serious illnesses. She has also started the Meagan Mauldin 5K Run to raise money for cancer patients. “I love meeting all the cancer patients that we help in Meagan’s name,” Stephanie says. In addition, Stephanie supports her community by giving time and money to Randy Sam’s, donating food and money to the Texarkana Animal Shelter, teaching Sunday school at Williams Memorial United Methodist Church and buying gifts for the Angel Tree at Christmas. Stephanie’s nomination says, “My sister, Stephanie Hawkins, is my hero. It all started February 13, 2009. A parent’s worst nightmare came true for Stephanie Hawkins and James Mauldin, when their daughter, Meagan, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare cancer of the bone. After several X-rays here in Texarkana, Dr. Gregory set her up with an orthopedic oncologist in Dallas. After visiting with him and having an MRI, Meagan was told she must start chemotherapy before surgery to remove the tumor. Meagan began chemotherapy with adriamycin or (Red Devil as it is known), and this particular drug made her lose her hair. She took the way she looked with a grain of salt and trudged on. Next was surgery. She was so nervous; Meagan did not like being ‘put to sleep’ for surgery. Dr. Mollobashy removed her tumor along with her bone in her lower left leg. We just knew at that point they had gotten it all and everything was going to be alright. Unfortunately, we were wrong, and at the time, we did not know the battle we were facing. Meagan was in and out of the hospital for over three years. The family would take turns taking her to Dallas Medical City Hospital and then MD Anderson in Houston. Meagan never gave up “This is amazing! My son has a hope. No matter how long term illness and received a grim the prognosis was, gift from the Meagan Mauldin fund. she was determined There was a picture of Meagan to fight every step of the way. My sister, and he still talks about that “pretty Stephanie, rarely girl that wanted to help me” I hope left Meagan’s side. Stephanie knows how special Occasionally she would have to go to work and those gifts are and how much it Meagan’s grandmothers, touched our family! She is such a Betty Mauldin or Paula special lady!” Hawkins, would stay with Meagan in the mornings, and I would stay with her in the afternoons. Later on during the ordeal, we found out the chemotherapy was not working, so they wanted to experiment with a trial study drug. We were all so hopeful this was going to work. Sadly, it did not. Meagan lost her battle with cancer on May 11, 2012. That is the day my sister took action. She started “The Meagan Mauldin Love For The Cure.” This fund was designed to help families whose loved ones were fighting cancer and other serious illnesses. Stephanie wanted to give back to our community by helping others. She raised money for families to travel with their loved ones. We forget that insurance companies do not pay for hotels, food, gas, etc. Stephanie wanted people to have this money to be able to carry their loved ones to the hospital and not have to worry about gas money or how they would get their next meal. Stephanie gave away over $20,000, some of it out of her own pocket. So many people helped Meagan financially or with prayer through her journey. The people of our community were fantastic. Stephanie wanted to pay these people 30
ALT Magazine
January 2014