Our story
Meet Stephanie Ankiel-West, LPN
Founder of Halo Companion Services and a nurse with over 20 years of healthcare experience. Dedicated to making sure no one faces the healthcare system alone.
Areas of expertise
Nonprofit founder
Founder, Brain Cancer of the Treasure Coast
Languages
English & Spanish
About Stephanie
20 years. Countless families. One mission.
Stephanie Ankiel-West is a nurse whose career has spanned public health, pediatric nursing, hospice support, chronic disease management, patient education, and medical advocacy. She has spent her professional life at the intersection of medicine and humanity, helping patients and families find clarity, comfort, and confidence in the healthcare system.
Her commitment to this work is deeply personal. Stephanie lost her husband Mark to Glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Navigating that diagnosis firsthand, she experienced exactly what so many families face: the fear, the confusion, the overwhelming weight of a system that can feel impossible to navigate alone. That experience changed everything.
It also led her to found Brain Cancer of the Treasure Coast, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting local brain tumor patients and advocating for greater awareness in the community. And it is the reason she created HALO. Because she knows, from the inside, how much it matters to have someone knowledgeable and compassionate by your side.
Stephanie is bilingual and provides services in both English and Spanish, ensuring that language is never a barrier to quality care and advocacy.
Why HALO exists
No one should ever have to do this alone
I created HALO because I believe no one should ever have to attend medical appointments, receive difficult news, or navigate our healthcare system alone. After two decades working alongside patients and families during the most overwhelming moments of their lives, I knew there had to be a better way to support them. Not just medically, but humanly.
What guides us
Our values
Compassion
We lead with empathy in every interaction, with patients, families, and healthcare providers alike.
Advocacy
We speak up when it matters. We make sure your needs and wishes are understood and respected.
Presence
Showing up physically and emotionally is at the heart of everything we do.
Dignity
Every person we serve is treated with the respect and care they deserve, always.
Trust
Families trust us with their most vulnerable moments. We take that responsibility seriously.
Community
We are rooted in South Florida. We know these communities, and we are invested in their wellbeing.
Ready to learn more?
We would love to talk with you about how HALO can support your family.