Remembering Marlene Stepanek
Meet Marlene Stepanek from Chicago, IL. Marlene was officially diagnosed with lupus in 1970 and we want to honor her brave fight. Living with lupus 50 years ago looked drastically different than it does today, proving how far we’ve come and yet how far we still need to go to find a cure.*
Marlene’s Story in the words of her husband, Fred:
After experiencing various symptoms, Marlene was incorrectly diagnosed around her 17th birthday in 1964 and finally correctly diagnosed with lupus in 1970, recently after we became engaged.
We bought our first home in early 1977. Marlene signed our papers in her hospital room, but she never spent a night in her first home. She fought courageously, but a kidney biopsy led to pneumonia for which she seemingly fought off in a great battle. But after spending her last 89 days in the hospital, Marlene passed away on October 5, 1977, at only 29 years old, with me by her side holding her hand.
Marlene was a wonderful person and the biggest prize – I still get overcome with grief decades later. She must be celebrated.
*At the time Marlene was diagnosed, there were very few treatments for lupus. In 1950, the Nobel Prize was awarded to scientists for the discovery of the effects of the use of cortisone/corticosteroids in lupus. Despite the advancements in treatments that were made in the 50s, the mortality rate for those with lupus in the 1960s and 70s was still 50% within three years of diagnosis.
More about Marlene:
Marlene’s husband Fred found a booklet of clippings after she passed. He wanted to share pictures from the booklet to show others how incredibly special she was.
The Marlene Stepanek Memorial Scholarship
“Marlene’s memory lives on despite her being cheated from life by this awful disease, still incurable to this day. She valued education; she worked hard for education. She had college credits also, along her way. In her honor, in her legacy, please find your education dream.” - Fred Stepanek
The MI Lupus Foundation is proud to announce the Marlene Stepanek Memorial Scholarship, which will award $1,500 to one applicant annually. Applicants must be a current high school or college student affected directly or indirectly by lupus. The recipient will be chosen by a review committee. Applications are due by September 1 and the award will be dispersed by October 1. To learn more, click below.
Thank you to Fred Stepanek for sponsoring this scholarship in honor of his late wife Marlene. His generosity will help many students across the state of Michigan in Marlene’s memory.