HELP STACEY KICK CANCER’S ASS

Friends and family!  Anyone who knows Stacey knows that she would never ask for help for herself so her dearest friends will do that for her.  She is a strong, independent single mom raising two amazing teenage boys, Dillon and Dawson. Unfortunately, Stacey was recently diagnosed with Colon Cancer. Doctors are moving very quickly, with surgery taking place November 9th.  This procedure will have at least one third of her colon resected, removing the 3 tumors that are afflicting her colon.  For anyone that has ever struggled with digestive issues, you know what relief surgery will mean to her day-to-day living. But the illness has taken a toll in recent months not just physically, but financially.

This devastating diagnosis comes in the wake of a difficult year as she has struggled to financially support her two boys with only the income from her small bookkeeping business.  Leading up to her diagnosis, Stacey has had to cut back her workload due to the pain and symptoms caused by the Colon Cancer.  She has used up her savings and does not have disability insurance available to help her through this difficult time.

Due to these changing circumstances, we feel now is the time to step in and assist in any way we can.  We, as her friends, ask that you please support Stacey and her boys as they face this journey together.  By raising funds for the family, we hope to ease some of the stress and financial pressure that she is currently facing. This will be vital to a successful recovery.

For those of you that may not know, Stacey has spent over 10 years devoting her free time to support her boys’ and the community by volunteering at their schools and spearheading various fundraising events.  She also took a lead role volunteering and working with the McKnight Hockey Association; she participated and managed several initiatives over the years to raise funds for the community hockey programs. It feels good to give back to someone who has given so much!

“Over the last year, I have had worsening stomach pains.  At first, I thought it was just stress related or reoccurring IBS.  My energy levels continued to drop as time went on and this summer I decided to see the doctor. My symptoms were becoming unbearable and a colonoscopy confirmed I have Colon Cancer.  Good news though-the CT Scan has thankfully ruled out Stage 4.  Only surgery and the biopsies will determine if I am faced with Stage 2 or 3.  I pray that the biopsies are clear!  As scary as the word Cancer is, I am grateful that I have been given an answer to all of the pain; I just want to be able to put this all behind me and focus on my recovery.

Thank you to my dearest friends Coleen, Terri and Laura and to my wonderful Sister, Lorrie.  These past few weeks have been so much easier to deal with because of your love and support.” ~ Stacey

A message from Stacey's Sister, Lorrie:

“We all have had moments that stick with us.  The kind of moments where you will never forget where you were or what you were doing when the moment happened.

Just three short weeks ago, I had one of those moments.  I was at work, and got a call from my sister. Cancer.  I think that’s the only actual word that I heard in our conversation.  I remember we talked for a while, but I couldn’t tell you any of the specifics, except the cancer.  That’s the only thing that stuck.  You see, Stacey is my big sister.  She was my first playmate, my first best friend.  She took care of me, she protected me, she bossed me around, she drove me crazy…a lot, she took me to my first concert, she laughed with me about boys, she taught me how to drive a standard, she helped me get ready for grad, she bought me my first drink, she was my Maid of Honour when I got married.  Through the years, we have spent countless hours laughing and crying.  We’ve shared advice about marriage and motherhood, careers and now…cancer.  Our lives, while separate, have ebbed and flowed apart, and then together.  But over the last couple of decades, they have been running more parallel than ever before.  Now, we are both single mothers, raising some pretty amazing kids.  And as a mother…I can’t even tell you just what an incredible mom my big sister is.  As mothers, we are both fiercely protective of our kids.  We love our children…would die for our children, and they know it, without question.  But to see Stacey and her boys…it’s pretty awesome to watch.  They are like three of the goofiest amigos you could ever hope to know.  There is a bond…a closeness that is…pretty damn awesome.  I’m envious of the closeness, their openness, their honesty, and their bond.  I can’t tell you how proud I am of the relationships my sister has created with her boys.  She is an amazing mom.  And the proof is in the two young men that she is raising.  If you’ve met them, then you know exactly what I’m talking about.  If you haven’t had the privilege…well I hope one day that you do. 

But, for how amazing my sister is, there is one thing that she has never been very good at.  I’m not really good at it either, but....this is the reality of life.  My sister has never been very good at asking for help.  She’s proud.  Damn proud. She is also smart and hardworking and honest and practical and levelheaded.  She plans ahead.  She plans for that rainy day that we all wish, and hope, never comes.  But, the situation is at a point where it is necessary.  To put it bluntly, my sister needs help.  Stacey was a stay at home mom for years.  She wanted to ensure her boys had the best start she could possibly give them.  She wanted them to have the benefit of having her at home while they were young.  Through the years she worked a bit, in the evenings and such.  She volunteered and was very involved in all areas of their lives.  But in the last handful of years, the boys have grown into more independent young men, and she has needed to return to the workforce in some way.  And so, she started her own bookkeeping business, working from home, which has been a great fit.  It has allowed her to have the flexibility to be there for the boys while creating something for herself at the same time.  She has become quite the entrepreneur if I do say so myself.  But, for the last year, she has had to be the sole financial support of the three amigos.  And with her being sick so much throughout the year, she has not been able to work as much as she would have liked, or wanted to.  Which has, unfortunately, drained her of her savings.  And, without the standard 9 – 5 type of job, she doesn’t have access to EI benefits, or even extended health care for that matter.  And so, those of us who are closest to her, are here asking for your help, because Stacey never would.”    ~ Lorrie

Thank you for taking the time to read Stacey’s story.  With your donation Stacey will be able to focus on her upcoming treatment and get the help she needs to go on providing for her family.  Funds raised will go towards expenses to maintain the household while she is recovering.

We realize you may or may not have a lot to give. That’s okay. Any contribution helps! You could also help Stacey by getting the word out and sharing this GoFundMe  link.  It’s easy – Just hit the Facebook SHARE link or copy and paste it into an email.

Have a blessed day.

Sincerely,
Friends and Family of Stacey