Stacy's Light Through Cancer

Stacy’s Light through Cancer
If you ever had the pleasure of meeting Stacy you come to find a light. A light that shines bright through everyone she meets. A light filled with so many words that can be used to describe her. If there was one word to choose, it would be admiration. Admiration of her strength through difficult times. Admiration of her continuous faith of better days to come. Admiration of  her beautiful, gregarious spirit. Stacy is a light in a dark place. Even when that dark place is here own circumstance.  

How it All Started- (video):
A few months after starting a new job and moving away from family and friends, Stacy suddenly started to feel debilitatingly sick. She went to the doctors office countless times trying to find answers with no results until, finally, she asked for a scan due to the multiple lumps in her neck she could feel spreading and growing. They gave her an ultrasound that led to a biopsy of 2 lymph nodes. The next day they called with the results...Papillary Thyroid Cancer.

What Happened after the 1st Surgery -(video):
The news was followed by surgery to remove the right thyroid and numerous lymph nodes on the right side of her neck. It went from being a 1 inch incision to a radical neck dissection due to the many lymph nodes wrapped around her carotid. At the time the left side did not show any signs of having cancer. They removed her right thyroid along with numerous lymph nodes with more than half that were cancerous.

The 1st surgery pathology report came back showing that Stacy has a rare thyroid cancer called Tall Cell Variant (TCV) PTC that effects 1% of Thyroid Cancer patients. The report came back with 70% TVC, which the higher percentage of the TCV the worse the cancer is . After learning about the TCV, her doctor wanted to go back in to remove her left remaining thyroid as a precaution that it may have spread. So only six days after her 1st surgery she went under the knife AGAIN. We are so glad she did, as we discovered that the cancer had spread to her left side as well. 

Where we're now:
Right now, Stacy is at the initial stages of getting her Radiation treatment. Throughout this whole process she’s been in another state without family and friends to help her the way they would like. Not only has this cancer been a great challenge by itself, the financial burden of the medical costs, living, and currently not working has taken a toll on her as well. Due to extending her time off from work for treatment, the reviewing process has resulted in her not getting paid for months. 

Throughout this time Stacy has been so strong and hasn’t asked for the help she needs from us, her community.  Cancer is tough enough on its own. While we continue help to pray for her health, we can help to relieve some of the financial burdens she's currently facing. Let's be a light to our friend who has so often been a light to us. We appreciate any of your generosity and support, even if it's sharing kind words!