Show Lacy LOVE - Join her fight against Lymphoma

"Seven weeks ago, I went to the doctor with abdominal pain. 5 doctors, 1 sonogram, 2 CT scans, 1 petscan, and 1 biopsy later—today, December 8th, I got the call sitting in my office at school. Stage 3, Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma. The main area of lymphoma was sitting nestled up against my aortic artery-and because of that, it slowed blood supply to my intestines. The abdominal pain I was feeling was a byproduct of the blood supply getting cut. Had that not been where the main site was, I would have probably never known it was growing in me. While this is hard news, my heart is grateful for that tiny miracle. I’m also grateful that in 36 years, this is the first real event that has stopped my life on a dime—I know so many that have faced so much more. Now is my chapter." – Lacy

And this is the epitome of Lacy Starnes my friends. Courageous. Resilient. Authentic.

When I arrived for my first day in Mesquite I.S.D. (having just moved from Houston AND having just had surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff), it was Lacy who sat across from me at a leadership retreat. At the time, I knew nothing about her, but I knew how she made me feel as Maya Angelo would say. I was in a new land, seated at a new table, looking at new faces. I was scared to death. I was out-of-place, awkward at best, and filled with anxiety over the choice I had made to accept this position. Within moments of listening to her, however, I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be – with like-minded people. She’s “our kind of people,” as one friend says. She made me feel I belonged. And that is her superpower! She makes everyone feel that way. She practices what she preaches – “We belong to each other.” And we do. So now it is OUR turn to show Lacy our superpower – Loving her.

As many of you know, medical expenses are outrageous and education salaries, equally outrageous but in a different way! She has devoted her life’s work to helping both students and teachers be the best they can be. Now it is our turn to return the love. Please consider giving anything you can – big or small. All will help in the fight and go towards her medical care.

“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” Lacy, saddle up. You’ve got this!!!