Support Stacey Ford's Battle with Mucosal Melanoma

A go fund me. I hate them. I mean, they have their purpose and place. Please don’t get me wrong. But you never know where your money is actually going or if it’s a legitimate cause. And now I’ve been asked to write one. For one of the most important people in the world to me. So it’s real. And it’s hitting home. And I’ve been putting it off. But I can’t anymore. So I’m going to give it my best effort. So here we go….

Stacey Michele (Smith) Ford, born December 16, 1974, is a 49 year old loving, loyal, joyful, generous woman who was urged to use her sick time to leave work early on October 22, 2024 and go to the ER, due to some symptoms she had been having for roughly 3 months. Within hours, she was admitted and a chemo port was placed before her discharge. She has now been diagnosed with Stage 4 mucosal melanoma (primary location is an 8x5x4 non-surgical internal mass) that has already metastasized to her lymph nodes, liver, both lungs, colon, chest cavity, etc. Mucosal melanoma only accounts for roughly 2% of melanomas and it is different from typical skin cancer, as it begins inside your body. And doctors aren’t really sure what causes it. Even with immunotherapy treatment (which she has already started,) her prognosis is poor.

Please allow me to try to explain the reason for this go fund me. Stacey has a college degree. And she has always been a very hard worker. But she obviously had to stop working (doctors’ orders) the day she walked into the ER and received her diagnosis. She has not been approved for disability yet (and anyone who has ever applied for disability knows that this could take longer than she actually has.) But her bills have not stopped. She still has a mortgage payment, electric bill, water bill, trash bill, etc. And now she has medication copayments, special lotions, etc for her chemo/immunotherapy treatments, oxygen, protein shakes, special diet, etc. In addition to this… right before Stacey was diagnosed, she was taking bids for a contractor to rip out her bathroom and re-do it because she had recently learned that the water in her shower had been going down her wall. And her bathroom is full of mold. This is the bathroom where she is still showering and it desperately needs to be fixed for her health. She has decided that she would like to spend whatever remaining time she has at home versus in a hospital. And her loved ones would like to do everything possible to make this happen.

Please, if you are able to help, you are appreciated more than you know. If you are unable to help financially, and could possibly help with the bathroom…. Please reach out! And if you are unable to help with either, PLEASE keep Stacey in your prayers.

Stacey (and her loved ones) sincerely thank you.