Kelsey Stokstad is a wife, a daughter, a sister, and a mom to her 3-year-old daughter, Raeya. In May 2023, everything changed for Kelsey when she started experiencing tingling and numbness in her left hand and arm. At first, doctors attributed the symptoms to anxiety. But on August 16th, while she was working, the sensations spread down her left leg—and she suffered a grand mal seizure. A CT scan that followed revealed a 4cm mass in the right parietal lobe of her brain.

She was admitted to the hospital immediately and underwent a successful craniotomy the very next day, on August 17th. After weeks of waiting, the pathology results confirmed a diagnosis of brain cancer: an astrocytoma grade 3. Further molecular testing brought a silver lining though—an IDH1 mutation. This particular mutation is associated with slower-growing, less aggressive tumors, offering a more hopeful prognosis.

At the time that Kelsey’s brain tumor was discovered, her daughter had just turned one. Navigating new parenthood while grappling with a life-altering diagnosis and intensive treatment was a challenge beyond words. Yet through it all, Kelsey remained strong and her family stood behind her every step of the way.

Driven by a desire to expand their family, she and her husband chose to pursue IVF. They successfully created five embryos, and after her recovery from surgery and an egg retrieval procedure, she began radiotherapy—completing 33 rounds in total. In January 2025, she officially completed treatment.

Throughout this experience, Kelsey turned to TikTok to share her story, find healing and build community. The support network that Kelsey cultivated inspired her and her husband, Sean, to also launch their podcast, Kind of A Lot. Their goal: to help others facing similar challenges—or any adversity—feel seen, supported, and less alone – a feeling that is all too common for those battling cancer.

As her body continues to heal, Kelsey has slowly started to feel like herself again. But recovery isn’t just physical. A diagnosis like this changes everything. It’s like walking through a door that only opens one way. Everything is different now. Discovering who she is now—after the diagnosis, treatment, and transformation—has been a humbling journey, filled with both difficulty and deep growth.

Kelsey is immensely grateful—for a fighting chance, more time with her family, the possibility of expanding their family, the power of modern medicine, and the unwavering support of her care team at Carbone Cancer Center. She is also incredibly thankful for her physician team who supported her throughout her entire treatment process—Dr. Ankush Bhatia, Dr. Steven Howard, and Dr. Azam Ahmed.

Her story is one of resilience, love, and redefining life after a seismic shift. And it’s a powerful reminder that even in the face of the unthinkable, there is still hope, healing, community and the strength to move forward.

Kelsey will be speaking at the 2025 Badger Challenge on Sunday, September 21, just before the 25K bike ride kicks off at 9:00 AM. The Badger Challenge plays a vital role in advancing groundbreaking cancer research and treatment—work that directly impacts patients like Kelsey.

To follow Kelsey and her family’s journey, follow her on Tik Tok (@kelsey_stok) and Instagram (@kelseystokstad). Listen to Kelsey and Sean’s Podcast, Kind of A Lot, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Apple Music.