Susan Godbold Stuppnig: Research Saved Her. Now Her Legacy Is Paying It Forward
Susan Godbold Stuppnig has always believed in the power of giving back, learning from her father at a young age that “it's just as important to give away as it is to take for ourselves.”
That lesson took on a new meaning when Susan was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer at just 26 years old. “You have to face your mortality,” said Susan.
Facing a diagnosis that came with a 30% chance of living three years, Susan wasn’t just afraid of dying, she worried she hadn’t lived a purposeful life.
How Research Changed Everything
When discussing treatment options, Susan’s oncologist at East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine suggested she enroll in a research study at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. There, doctors recommended an autologous bone marrow transplant alongside traditional chemotherapy and radiation treatment, an approach that increased her three-year survival odds from 30% to 70%.
Today, Susan is a 32-year breast cancer survivor.
“If we’re not trying things, then we’re not learning and saving lives,” said Susan. “Because without that I probably would not be here today; research saved me.”
For Susan, her own journey became proof that investing in research means investing in the future of other patients.
After her initial breast cancer diagnosis, genetic testing confirmed she carried the BRCA1 mutation. The news validated what she had long suspected after seeing cancer affect generations of her family, including her mother, grandmother, sister and aunts.
Five years ago, doctors determined that Susan had head and neck cancer despite not fitting the typical profile for the disease. After being declared cancer free, her health struggles continued. Just since last December, Susan faced both gingival and skin cancers.
Today, however, Susan is a four-time cancer survivor and seven months cancer free.
“I’m super grateful to be here. If it weren’t for science, if it weren’t for research, if it weren’t for medicine, there would be no me.”
Turning Gratitude into Action
For Susan, surviving isn’t enough. She strives to help create better outcomes for others facing the disease, which is why she continues to dedicate her time to volunteering and fundraising for cancer nonprofits.
While chatting with a friend about investing in ‘what matters to you’, she was reminded of the V Foundation.
As a Meredith College graduate and NC State fan, Susan has long admired V Foundation founder Jim Valvano and his “Don’t Ever Give Up!” spirit. Learning that 100% of direct donations fund cancer research made supporting the V Foundation an easy decision, giving her confidence that every dollar raised from family and friends goes straight to groundbreaking science.
As a four-time cancer survivor, Susan also values that the V Foundation funds high-risk, high-reward research across all cancer types.
“It’s more important than ever to get out there and give what we have whether it be a dollar or a million dollars and do our part to help.”
Continuing the Legacy and Accelerating Victory Over Cancer
With many of her family and friends facing cancer today, and through her own personal journey, Susan has witnessed firsthand how treatments have improved over the past three decades. But she knows there is still work to do.
Wanting to be intentional with her legacy, Susan chose to include a gift to the V Foundation in her will, to ensure that progress continues for generations to come. She felt confident in her decision knowing that V Foundation funded grantees are transforming the cancer research landscape.
For Susan, Victory Over Cancer means not only finding cures, but also developing better treatments and improving outcomes for every patient.
Through her legacy gift, Susan hopes to inspire others to think about the impact they can have.
“When you think about your legacy, one way that you can make sure your drive to make a difference is still felt is by incorporating a planned gift,” said Susan. “So that the V Foundation can act on my behalf, and I can still make a difference.”
Each July, Susan celebrates another birthday by fundraising for the V Foundation, using the occasion to encourage others to consider how they can make a difference.
One of the most important lessons she hopes to share is that every gift matters.
“It can be an itty bitty something, because a bunch of itty bitty somethings can add up to a lot.”