Stacey's (Ford) Crabby Daisy
Donation protected
Hello-
This is a new place for me.
I’m not used to asking for help and certainly neither is my dear sweet friend and roommate from college, Stacey. She was Stacey Ford back in the day and is Stacey Stasney now.
Let me tell you a little about Stacey. She lives in Texas and has 4 sons. She is possibly one of the most creative people I’ve ever known. I met Stacey when we were both at Lubbock Christian University, too many minutes ago to count. The world was our Oyster, right? We had nothing but good things in our future. It was fun and idyllic. I’ve had many, many…painfully too many roommates, in my life. Living with people sure brings the reality to the relationship. Stacey and I lived together for 3 years. She was a true and genuine person. She’s always been so comfortable in her own skin and I was amazed at how much I could rely on her at such a young age. She was mature beyond her years and somehow made everything funny.
Stacey began her own business 20 years ago and has been very successful. If you’re an entrepreneur, as I am, you understand the pro’s and cons, highs and lows of owning your own business. It isn’t for everyone. She always managed with a panache that was enviable. Fast forward to the most recent few years. Stacey got cancer. I’ve had cancer too. It sucks. I however had great insurance and a great support system. Stacey had insurance too, but the out of pocket expenses for her went into the thousands….the tens of thousands. Specifically, she was out of pocket close to $25,000. Stacey is a fairly private person however, choosing to forge ahead and make the best of things without crying out for help. She was the sole proprietor of her business. She created her product, sold her product and was basically a one man show. However, when the one man goes down, so does the business.
So, Stacey got a two-fer….less money in, lots of money out. It didn’t do her any good that her mother and best friend were both dying during all of this. I remember that she brought her kids, sister and kids and mother, who had a nose prosthetic at this point, to Arizona to see the Grand Canyon before she died. They stayed with me and I was honored to host. We all knew what was coming…and she never once complained. She never once mentioned how hard it was all for her. She never mentioned her own cancer. She reached out to cry together when her mom died….then as her best friend in Austin also died. She was at a low point for sure. She still never mentioned her own cancer or money worries. She was all about them. Her kind of strength is amazing.
Now, here’s the thing. I’m grown. I’m responsible. …and it’s easy to be smug. I’m an insurance agent! Planning for the worst is what I do! That said, unless you’ve been there…its tough to describe. I never expected to deal with this kind of thing. Yet there I was. One major difference between my friend and I. I had staff. More importantly, I had a support system that she didn’t. She was busy BEING a support system to others. I never went to a single appointment alone. Stacey went to every single one of her appointments on her own. I’m so sad, but more so, I’m angry. I’m angry that this sweet woman…well anyone one really….but THIS sweet woman held up others when she herself was not being held up.
I want to honor her privacy so I’m hesitant to say much more. … but I’m upset…and sad …for someone who is one of the brightest, kindest, loving, honest and forthright people I have ever had the honor to meet. I want to protect her….but more so I want to help her. Its only money, but it sure makes a difference. Its funny, I say it all the time to customers and I mean it. It IS just money, but at the lowest points in life…it sure makes a difference in your survival. The problem is….there’s no insurance for all Stacey has bravely battled.
I know we’ve all gone through low points. We lived somehow, because the sun kept coming up every day. That said…this is why we have community. We watch out for each other. I truly believe that no one can carry anyone else…at least not very far. That’s not what this is. We are not carrying her. We are lifting her up. This is many of us, giving a tiny hand up, and helping up a friend’s as she wobbles and stands on her own two feet. THIS is the act of loving someone. The kind of love that doesn’t matter how you feel, you’ve told yourself you will be loving. This is that.
This is our opportunity to lift someone up and pray to the Lord that in each of our hours of need, there will be someone who is willing to help each of us. Stacey would never ask for help. Never. So I’m asking. She could use a hand up. I, alone, do not have enough hands. Please help me to help her in whatever way you can. While I’m here for cold hard cash, no matter how little….prayers and thoughts of encouragement are welcome….or a card. Or better still, buy one of her amazing leather creations…. purses and bible covers. Ask me and I’ll get you information.
What ever you can do, please do it. Please do it.
I appreciate you reading this. I’ve honestly been at a loss as to what to do. I want to help her….but I can’t do it on my own.
Thank you,
~Becky
This is a new place for me.
I’m not used to asking for help and certainly neither is my dear sweet friend and roommate from college, Stacey. She was Stacey Ford back in the day and is Stacey Stasney now.
Let me tell you a little about Stacey. She lives in Texas and has 4 sons. She is possibly one of the most creative people I’ve ever known. I met Stacey when we were both at Lubbock Christian University, too many minutes ago to count. The world was our Oyster, right? We had nothing but good things in our future. It was fun and idyllic. I’ve had many, many…painfully too many roommates, in my life. Living with people sure brings the reality to the relationship. Stacey and I lived together for 3 years. She was a true and genuine person. She’s always been so comfortable in her own skin and I was amazed at how much I could rely on her at such a young age. She was mature beyond her years and somehow made everything funny.
Stacey began her own business 20 years ago and has been very successful. If you’re an entrepreneur, as I am, you understand the pro’s and cons, highs and lows of owning your own business. It isn’t for everyone. She always managed with a panache that was enviable. Fast forward to the most recent few years. Stacey got cancer. I’ve had cancer too. It sucks. I however had great insurance and a great support system. Stacey had insurance too, but the out of pocket expenses for her went into the thousands….the tens of thousands. Specifically, she was out of pocket close to $25,000. Stacey is a fairly private person however, choosing to forge ahead and make the best of things without crying out for help. She was the sole proprietor of her business. She created her product, sold her product and was basically a one man show. However, when the one man goes down, so does the business.
So, Stacey got a two-fer….less money in, lots of money out. It didn’t do her any good that her mother and best friend were both dying during all of this. I remember that she brought her kids, sister and kids and mother, who had a nose prosthetic at this point, to Arizona to see the Grand Canyon before she died. They stayed with me and I was honored to host. We all knew what was coming…and she never once complained. She never once mentioned how hard it was all for her. She never mentioned her own cancer. She reached out to cry together when her mom died….then as her best friend in Austin also died. She was at a low point for sure. She still never mentioned her own cancer or money worries. She was all about them. Her kind of strength is amazing.
Now, here’s the thing. I’m grown. I’m responsible. …and it’s easy to be smug. I’m an insurance agent! Planning for the worst is what I do! That said, unless you’ve been there…its tough to describe. I never expected to deal with this kind of thing. Yet there I was. One major difference between my friend and I. I had staff. More importantly, I had a support system that she didn’t. She was busy BEING a support system to others. I never went to a single appointment alone. Stacey went to every single one of her appointments on her own. I’m so sad, but more so, I’m angry. I’m angry that this sweet woman…well anyone one really….but THIS sweet woman held up others when she herself was not being held up.
I want to honor her privacy so I’m hesitant to say much more. … but I’m upset…and sad …for someone who is one of the brightest, kindest, loving, honest and forthright people I have ever had the honor to meet. I want to protect her….but more so I want to help her. Its only money, but it sure makes a difference. Its funny, I say it all the time to customers and I mean it. It IS just money, but at the lowest points in life…it sure makes a difference in your survival. The problem is….there’s no insurance for all Stacey has bravely battled.
I know we’ve all gone through low points. We lived somehow, because the sun kept coming up every day. That said…this is why we have community. We watch out for each other. I truly believe that no one can carry anyone else…at least not very far. That’s not what this is. We are not carrying her. We are lifting her up. This is many of us, giving a tiny hand up, and helping up a friend’s as she wobbles and stands on her own two feet. THIS is the act of loving someone. The kind of love that doesn’t matter how you feel, you’ve told yourself you will be loving. This is that.
This is our opportunity to lift someone up and pray to the Lord that in each of our hours of need, there will be someone who is willing to help each of us. Stacey would never ask for help. Never. So I’m asking. She could use a hand up. I, alone, do not have enough hands. Please help me to help her in whatever way you can. While I’m here for cold hard cash, no matter how little….prayers and thoughts of encouragement are welcome….or a card. Or better still, buy one of her amazing leather creations…. purses and bible covers. Ask me and I’ll get you information.
What ever you can do, please do it. Please do it.
I appreciate you reading this. I’ve honestly been at a loss as to what to do. I want to help her….but I can’t do it on my own.
Thank you,
~Becky
Organizer and beneficiary
Becky Davis Halstead
Organizer
Flagstaff, AZ
Stacey Stastny
Beneficiary