My name is Stacy Lange (Carpenzano). I am divorced. I have lived in North Kingstown my whole life. I am a mommy of two special kitties named Chimi and Miss Thing. I have been delivering newspapers for almost 23 years. I deliver in the Bonnet Shores/Narragansett area. My greatest joy besides my furbabies is seeing all the excited, sweet doggies along my route that wait for me every day for their treats from me. I have also met some of the sweetest, kindest people while delivering that I consider like family now. I don't have many relatives left, so their support means the world to me.

I went for my routine yearly mammogram in May, and they saw a mass on the scans and sent me for a biopsy a couple of weeks later. At the beginning of June, I received the most shocking, devastating news from the doctor calling about my biopsy results. I was told I had breast cancer and was referred to the Breast Health Center at Women and Infants. The plan of action is to have surgery on July 29th. I am having a lumpectomy and node removal. They are going to remove the mass and the margins around it and remove multiple lymph nodes in both arms. As long as the cancer hasn't spread into my lymph nodes, I shouldn't need chemo, just radiation and medication.

I am considered an independent contractor/self-employed, so I am not eligible for TDI or benefits like that, sadly. Between the surgery, cancer treatments, and physical therapy, I will be out of work for an extended period of time. Depending on how my healing goes and how my body reacts to the treatments, I could be without income for multiple months. I am praying that is not the case.

I am not a very exciting person, haha. So there isn't too much to tell about me other than my love for animals. I just hope and pray that I can beat this challenge in my life. I would love to not have the stress of how to pay my bills during this difficult time and solely focus on my recovery. I may be on a difficult journey right now, but my story isn't over yet.