One of their own

t Silver City staff shows support for coworker battling cancer.

Miranda Stokke has been a familiar face at Silver City Restaurant & Brewery for three years.

She looks a little different than she used to, but so do many of her coworkers.

Stokke, 20, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in February. The 2006 Olympic High School grad started chemotherapy March 3 and two weeks later, she had no hair.

Stokke’s family and coworkers recently shaved their heads to show their support for her. The Silver City server’s hairstylist of five years shaved everyone’s heads and Stokke is overwhelmed by the show of support.

“It made it a little bit easier, a little more lighthearted,” she said. “It makes me speechless. Just to have that kind of support is awesome.”

Stokke said she and her family knew something was wrong in January, but when a doctor told her she had cancer, she was shocked.

“It definitely was a shock. You never really think it’s going to happen to you,” Stokke said. “I didn’t really know what to expect.”

Stokke said losing her hair was very difficult and she had no idea her supporters were going to shave their heads. Silver City General Manager Josh Klein said that the restaurant is “a big family” and the staff wanted to do everything they could to support her.

“So here she is not even 21 years old and going through this kind of thing,” Klein said. “It’s a pretty challenging thing for a 20-year-old to go through, for anyone to go through really.”

Klein said most of the men behind the bar shaved their heads and ensures customers the beer is safe to drink.

“Don’t worry, coming to Silver City and drinking our beer will not make your hair fall out,” Klein said with a smile.

Stokke travels to Madigan Army Medical Center for chemotherapy and the treatments aren’t cheap. She also had some eggs harvested before she began treatment to ensure she will be able to have children someday. That process alone cost $10,000. The staff at Silver City is raising money for Stokke’s treatments and plans to host a car wash at Silver City from 9 to 11 a.m. next weekend, April 26 and 27. All proceeds will go to Stokke and her family.

“As long as I’m feeling well I’ll be there (at the car wash) with bells on,” Stokke said.

Klein said Silver City may do more fund-raisers for Stokke and her family in the future.

“We’ll see how her treatment goes and we might put together a crew relief fund,” Klein said. “As her needs demand, I’m sure we’ll make sure she’s taken care of.”

While undergoing chemotherapy, Stokke works part-time at Silver City and takes online courses at Olympic College to obtain her associate’s degree. She said she never expected this much support from her co-workers and is grateful to have such wonderful family and friends.

As for the Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Stokke said she’s responded well to treatment. Her doctor said she may only need one more round of chemotherapy and possibly radiation treatment.

“I just want to thank everybody that’s been there for me,” Stokke said. “I don’t think I could have done it and gone through it so quickly without them.”

t Silver City staff shows support for coworker battling cancer.

Miranda Stokke has been a familiar face at Silver City Restaurant & Brewery for three years.

She looks a little different than she used to, but so do many of her coworkers.

Stokke, 20, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in February. The 2006 Olympic High School grad started chemotherapy March 3 and two weeks later, she had no hair.

Stokke’s family and coworkers recently shaved their heads to show their support for her. The Silver City server’s hairstylist of five years shaved everyone’s heads and Stokke is overwhelmed by the show of support.

“It made it a little bit easier, a little more lighthearted,” she said. “It makes me speechless. Just to have that kind of support is awesome.”

Stokke said she and her family knew something was wrong in January, but when a doctor told her she had cancer, she was shocked.

“It definitely was a shock. You never really think it’s going to happen to you,” Stokke said. “I didn’t really know what to expect.”

Stokke said losing her hair was very difficult and she had no idea her supporters were going to shave their heads. Silver City General Manager Josh Klein said that the restaurant is “a big family” and the staff wanted to do everything they could to support her.

“So here she is not even 21 years old and going through this kind of thing,” Klein said. “It’s a pretty challenging thing for a 20-year-old to go through, for anyone to go through really.”

Klein said most of the men behind the bar shaved their heads and ensures customers the beer is safe to drink.

“Don’t worry, coming to Silver City and drinking our beer will not make your hair fall out,” Klein said with a smile.

Stokke travels to Madigan Army Medical Center for chemotherapy and the treatments aren’t cheap. She also had some eggs harvested before she began treatment to ensure she will be able to have children someday. That process alone cost $10,000. The staff at Silver City is raising money for Stokke’s treatments and plans to host a car wash at Silver City from 9 to 11 a.m. next weekend, April 26 and 27. All proceeds will go to Stokke and her family.

“As long as I’m feeling well I’ll be there (at the car wash) with bells on,” Stokke said.

Klein said Silver City may do more fund-raisers for Stokke and her family in the future.

“We’ll see how her treatment goes and we might put together a crew relief fund,” Klein said. “As her needs demand, I’m sure we’ll make sure she’s taken care of.”

While undergoing chemotherapy, Stokke works part-time at Silver City and takes online courses at Olympic College to obtain her associate’s degree. She said she never expected this much support from her co-workers and is grateful to have such wonderful family and friends.

As for the Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Stokke said she’s responded well to treatment. Her doctor said she may only need one more round of chemotherapy and possibly radiation treatment.

“I just want to thank everybody that’s been there for me,” Stokke said. “I don’t think I could have done it and gone through it so quickly without them.”