Stacy Royce and her husband, Fred Schwab III, have been dedicated members of the Westbrook Chemical Engine Company No. 1 /Westbrook Fire Department family for many years. Stacy has served the department for 16 years and is currently the Department Secretary. Fred has been a loyal Auxiliary Member, always supporting our firefighters and community.
Stacy and Fred are high school sweethearts who were married in 2017. They welcomed their first daughter, Paige, in 2019, and in November of 2024, their family grew again with the birth of baby Hazel. As their family expanded, they were forced to put plans for a home of their own on hold and move in with Fred’s parents so they could manage expenses and save for housing.
Just after Hazel’s first birthday, a routine checkup led to devastating news — Hazel was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare childhood cancer. A large mass was found in her chest/abdomen and is currently inoperable due to its size and proximity to vital organs, including the spinal cord. Hazel must undergo chemotherapy to shrink the tumor before surgery can be safely performed.
After weeks of testing, Stacy and Fred received some encouraging news: the cancer has not spread. However, Hazel began chemotherapy just before Christmas, and the family now faces mounting medical bills, missed work, travel for care, and the added challenges of limited space and isolation while trying to keep Hazel safe from illness during treatment.
This has placed an overwhelming emotional and financial strain on the family as they care for Hazel while also supporting their 6-year-old daughter, Paige.
We are asking friends, family, fellow firefighters, and our community to please keep the Royce-Schwab family in your thoughts and prayers. If you are able, any donation will help ease the financial burden and allow Stacy and Fred to focus on what matters most — fighting alongside their baby girl.
Donations will help with:
Medical bills and treatment costs
Travel for specialized medical care
Household and essential expenses while caring for Hazel
Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference. Thank you for standing with the Royce-Schwab family during this difficult time.
