Stacey – Sterling, VA

Stacey emailed us this #scarfselfie that we shared on our Facebook page.  Immediately many people responded with kind words of encouragement.  The sisterhood of the traveling scarves is behind you Stacey.  

Tell us a fun fact about yourself that has nothing to do with cancer.

I like to cook, it makes me happy to share something I love to do with others.

What brought you hope as you faced cancer?

My family and the strong support of friends I have surrounding me.

How do you live life over cancer?

I don’t let it get the best of me.  I go about and continue to do what I always do every day – get up and live.  Sure, there are days I’m tired, cranky and sore, but I force myself to keep going because I can’t let it defeat me.  I have others who are looking up to me.

How did you become connected with Hope Scarves? Whether you received, sent or donated a Hope Scarf, what did this experience mean to you?

I was referred to Hope Scarves by the INOVA Life With Cancer Center in Northern Va.  I was busy looking for everything free that would make me feel like I was owning cancer and I saw that the scarf could bring me a bit of hope and beauty.  I really needed it at the time.  Cancer robs you of both.  I felt good that there were strangers out there who knew what cancer was like and wanted to ease a little bit of someone’s burden, perhaps make them smile; feel pretty when they didn’t.  It felt good to know someone out there cared to make me smile.

What would you tell someone who is thinking about sending a Hope Scarf to a friend facing cancer?

Do it, even the tiniest of gestures goes a long way to making someone feel good.

What is one of your dreams or goals for the future?

To be able to make it to my 50th year and celebrate with all my girlfriends who hit that milestone!

What is your favorite inspirational quote?

“There is nothing more uncommon than common sense.”   Frank Lloyd Wright

If your friends or family had to describe you in a couple of words, what would those be?

Compassionate, fighter.  Although I’m not comfortable with that term, I guess that’s what I do when I wade through each day.  I fight to get to the next one.

Please share something you learned facing cancer.

Cancer is a thief, but I also learned there’s a large community of women out there who are going through the same thing you are, feeling the exact same way so it’s nice to be a part of a wider community that even if we’ve never met in person, still love and life you up from afar. Hope Scarves is a perfect example of this.