Dancing for Gold® 2027 supporting Book for Hope®
James Stenberg
Our family was blessed with a miracle, and I’m dancing to help create hope for the next family waiting for one.
James Stenberg
Our family was blessed with a miracle, and I’m dancing to help create hope for the next family waiting for one.
I was born in California, moved to Chicago, IL and grew up in Hazel, KY from the age of 10. I was blessed enough to meet my wife at 15, we got married in June of 2006 when I was 21 and she was 20. We have three boys ages 15, 13 and 9. I started my career as a diesel mechanic after completing diesel college. After the ice storm of 2009 I decided I enjoyed serving my community and joined Hazel Fire Department and Calloway County Fire Rescue. In 2011 I got a job with the McCracken County School System as a vehicle technician. I moved to Ledbetter in 2012 where I joined the Ledbetter Fire Department.
In 2020 while I was taking an EMT class, just as the pandemic hit, my youngest son Ryken (3 at the time) was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He had some symptoms affecting his motor skills on his right side and we took him to Norton Children’s Hospital to get an MRI. They informed us they found a tumor and he needed to have surgery the next morning. The surgeon told us he didn’t want to sugar coat it. He said by the scan it looked like it was cancerous and would probably have to be taken out with multiple surgeries. We started a prayer chain and after Ryken’s surgery the surgeon spoke with us again. He said he didn’t want to tell us but the tumor was like a zebra, it didn’t fit. He said it had a protective shell around it and came right out. I asked, “Like a miracle?” and he agreed. Ryken’s tumor was not cancerous but it was pushing on his brain stem, causing the symptoms. When he was released from the hospital after a month-long inpatient therapy, the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office escorted us home where the fire department and community welcomed us. Today Ryken is healthy and symptom-free. He is intelligent, happy-go-lucky, athletic and does all the things a little boy should.
In 2021 I started my career at the Paducah Fire Department. I am blessed to do what I love for a career. In 2023 I moved to the Lone Oak area. I teach firefighting for State Fire on my off time and still turn wrenches, mostly for a hobby. I enjoy playing guitar, boating on the lake, exploring the outdoors and spending time with family and friends.