After learning of her devastating breast cancer diagnosis, one woman was abandoned by someone she trusted, but a loyal friend stepped up and became her beacon of hope, honoring her last request.
What Happened to Beth’s Kids After Her Diagnosis?
Beth Laitkep, a 39-year-old mother battling breast cancer, spent her final days in a Virginia hospital. She was diagnosed with the disease in 2015 while pregnant with her youngest child, Ace.
In April, her children — Will (15), Selena (14), Jaxson (11), Dallas (10), Lily (five), and Ace (one) — moved in with her best friend, Stephanie Culley, and her husband, Donnie.
The relocation to Alton, Virginia, took place shortly after doctors confirmed that Beth’s cancer had spread to her spine and brain.
Beth and Stephanie had first met as teenagers while working together at Walmart.
Years later, Beth returned to Virginia and reconnected with Stephanie, just as her previous battle with breast cancer reignited, this time, more aggressively.
By then, the bond between the Culley and Laitkep families had already grown close.
Beth’s children had developed strong friendships with Stephanie’s kids — Cole (ten), Hayden (six), and Calen (two).
“We became a family while Beth was still alive,” Stephanie explained, “and we love them like our own, so it made sense for me to take the kids in when she died.”
Beth asked her to make just one promise: that her daughters would always wear bows in their hair.
While Beth’s story highlights the personal challenges of facing this disease, it’s important to understand what breast cancer is and why it can be so devastating.
Understanding Breast Cancer
According to the Cleveland Clinic, breast cancer develops when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably in the breast, forming lumps known as tumors. In approximately 80 percent of cases, these tumors can spread to other parts of the body.
While most common in women over 50, younger women and even men can also be diagnosed. This cancer presents in different forms, and sometimes, it shows no symptoms at all.
When symptoms do appear, they may include:
- A lump in the breast or underarm
- Changes in the breast’s size or shape
- Or skin that appears red, puckered, scaly, or swollen
These include:
- Being a woman over 55
- Having a family history of breast cancer
- Or carrying genes like BRCA1 or BRCA2
Additional risks involve smoking, alcohol use, obesity, previous radiation treatments, and hormone replacement therapy.
Returning to Beth’s journey beyond the bows, she made an even greater request of her friend before her passing.
Beth’s Biggest Wish Fulfilled
As Beth realized her time was limited, she turned to someone she trusted to raise her children.
When she asked, “If a miracle doesn’t happen and I don’t make it, can you take my children as your own?” Stephanie answered yes without hesitation.
That heartfelt message was only the beginning of what would become an extraordinary story of friendship and resilience. Following Beth’s death from cancer on May 19, 2016, her children were devastated, but they found comfort in their new home and siblings. Grief counseling also helped ease their transition.
Stephanie’s husband, a construction worker, had built their home ten years earlier. It turned out to be spacious enough to house what would become a family of 11.
Beth’s final message to her best friend was deeply touching, “Tell my babies I love them. And you know I love you too, Stephanie.” Stephanie believes their coming together wasn’t just by chance.
“There was some higher power working here,” Stephanie said. “It had to be someone up above looking out for us.” With a home already big enough for nine kids, everything seemed to fall perfectly into place.
By early June 2016, adoption paperwork was in progress, with a final court date set for June 19 to formalize the arrangement. In July, the Culleys took the final step in becoming a family of 11.
A judge granted them full, permanent custody of all six children. According to Stephanie, the children already saw one another as true siblings. She said, “If they’re sad, they cry to us and we cry with them. They let their feelings out [sic] and we are all here to support them.”
Reflecting on the court ruling, Stephanie shared, “The kids, my husband [sic] and I are extremely relieved for this to be over,” adding, “Now we can move on with the rest of our lives and work at finding our ‘normal,’ if that is even possible with a family this large.”
In the end, Beth’s final wishes were honored, ensuring her children found the loving home she had dreamed of for them. Her legacy lives on through the love and strength of the Culley family, creating a bond that turned two families into one.
