With tender hearts, we share that Autumn passed away in January 2026 after a long and courageous battle with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS).
Autumn's recovery from severe bipolar disorder was the original story behind Truehope. Today, her life represents something even greater — faith, perseverance, and the mission to bring hope to families facing mental illness.
Truehope exists because a father refused to give up on his daughter.
As a young woman, Autumn experienced severe bipolar disorder. Her condition led to hospitalizations, instability, and heartbreaking uncertainty.
Her father, Anthony Stephan, watched his daughter suffer and refused to accept that there were no more options. As a caring father, he searched relentlessly for solutions. Along the way, their family leaned heavily on prayer — asking for direction, wisdom, and hope when the path forward was unclear.
Out of desperation came determination.
Anthony began researching the connection between nutrition and mental health. Through persistence, study, and faith, a broad-spectrum micronutrient approach was developed — what would later become EMPowerplus.
Autumn's stabilization was gradual but profound. The mood swings lessened. Clarity returned. Stability replaced chaos. Over time, she was able to fully step back into the life she had already begun building — as a wife, a mother, and a woman of deep faith.
She and her husband Dana remained married, weathering the most difficult years together. What once felt fragile became steady. What once felt uncertain became enduring.
Her healing became the foundation of Truehope's mission: to help individuals and families find hope when mental illness feels overwhelming.
Autumn was never just “a case study.” She was compassionate, resilient, and deeply faithful. Because she understood suffering, she carried unusual empathy for others walking similar paths.
Her experience shaped Truehope's commitment to:
Individualized guidance for every person on their journey toward mental wellness.
Empowering families with knowledge and resources to navigate mental health challenges together.
Honoring those seeking alternatives with compassion and understanding.
Believing in every person's potential to improve, no matter the circumstances.
Today, Truehope has supported hundreds of thousands of individuals worldwide using micronutrient support for mental health. Behind that global impact is one daughter's story.
Autumn's life reminds us that:
When she later developed Stiff Person Syndrome, she faced it with quiet courage and trust in God. Though the illness limited her physically, it did not diminish her spirit.
Autumn's story is not only part of our history. It is the heart of our mission.
Autumn wrote A Promise of Hope (HarperCollins, 2007) to share her life of medications and psych wards, the loss of her mother, and the inspiring discovery of EMPowerplus. Her story has touched countless lives and continues to inspire families around the world.