|
 The group gathered for the photo included the
Logan County Sheriff Mark Landers, members of the administrative
staff, Logan County deputies, and other corrections officers who
work at the jail. In addition to a physical display of support, the
shirts also represent an ongoing fundraiser that the department is
holding, with the proceeds to go directly to Stacy and Jim to assist
them with her battle.
Jim’s sister Sarah Crabtree is also an officer at the jail. She
explained that the fundraiser was the brainchild of co-worker Jacob
Huskins. Huskins and others wanted to do something tangible to
assist the Crabtrees.
Huskins came up with the idea of selling pink shirts
to friends and co-workers. The profits from the shirts will go
directly to the Crabtrees. Sarah said that they ordered 68 shirts
and still have a few left. To date they have not tallied the total
as they are hoping to sell out on the shirts soon. If anyone would
like to purchase a shirt, they may contact Huskins or Sarah Crabtree
at the Logan County Safety Complex.
Jim Crabtree shared what the couple has been experiencing. He
recalls June 5th when Stacy came to him and said that something
wasn’t right. He said it was evening and they were at home. Stacy
had gone off to the bathroom and Jim was checking out some things on
the computer. While in the bathroom, Stacy had done a self-exam, and
noted that something in her left breast didn’t feel right.
Jim said it wasn’t exactly a lump that she felt, but at the same
time, she knew that what she was feeling had not been there before.
He said it was immediately frightening and concerning, but the two
had held on to one another, and vowed to stay calm. Until they knew
what was happening, they were not going to assume the worst.
Stacy made a doctor appointment and was soon going through imaging
and a biopsy. The end result, she was diagnosed with Stage 2B breast
cancer. Stage 2 is a relatively early diagnosis, so the hope that
all would go well was high.
The plan of action for Stacy included four rounds of chemotherapy,
lumpectomy surgery, and then probably another round or two of chemo.
Stacy has completed her four rounds and will have her surgery this
week. Jim and Stacy are both optimistic that all is going well. Jim
said that what Stacy felt in June she can no longer feel, a good
sign that the chemo has done a pretty good job of knocking back the
cancer.
It’s been a rough journey for the couple, who have
only been married three years. Jim said that the two have been
together for the last five years and were married in 2017. Between
them they have six children from previous relationships. Five of the
kids are adults, but they do have one little girl who is only eight.
[to top of second column] |
Jim said that for him, this was ‘not his first
rodeo.” He noted that he lost his first wife seven years ago to
breast cancer. The first wife, he said was diagnosed with stage
four, so her prognosis was never as good as Stacy’s. Nonetheless, it
was a shock for Jim, like being struck a second time by lightning,
he found himself going through all the turmoil for a second time in
his life, something he would never have imagined could happen.
Jim says that Stacy is incredible. She’s strong and a fighter, and
she thinks he’s stronger than perhaps he actually is. He said
especially at first, this was a hard thing to absorb. He went
through his own emotional turmoil and did all that he could not to
let Stacy see how frightened he was for the life of his wife. He
wanted her to see the strong supportive husband that he wanted to be
and that she deserved.
Jim said that he knew there were spouses who ‘check out’ when
trouble comes. They separate themselves emotionally and sometimes
even physically from the situation. For him, he said it was just the
opposite. It became vitally important to him that Stacy see only his
strong side, only his confident side, the loving supportive husband
he had vowed to be three years earlier.
When someone is diagnosed with cancer, regardless of gender or the
type of cancer, having a strong support team surrounding him or her
to hold them up becomes a big part of winning the battle.
Jim said that Stacy has a strong support system including himself,
their family, friends, and co-workers. The love, encouragement, and
concern for both of them helps to keep Jim and Stacy moving forward
optimistically. And, he has a secondary support system, including
his sister Sarah and his co-workers at the sheriff’s department. All
combined, those that surround the Crabtree’s with their love are
keeping the couple focused on the task at hand, getting Stacy well
again.
Jim says that Stacy has a positive attitude. Her employer is
permitting her to work from home, so she works as much as possible,
which helps her feel productive and “normal.”
He said that Stacy will have her surgery and will also have a biopsy
of her lymph nodes to assure the cancer is not spreading.
Jim said he’s comforted by the advances that have been made in
treatment. He said when his first wife was diagnosed, the plan of
action began with surgery. For Stacy the rounds of chemo before
surgery are intended to knock down the cancer, or reduce the size of
the cancerous mass, making it more likely that the lumpectomy will
enable surgeons to get the entire mass removed without radical
surgery.
The changes that Jim spoke about are the key to furthering the
survival rate of all cancer patients. Today, research on treatment
methods is ongoing for more than 70 types of cancer. With each
advance, the likelihood of survival can increase. Years ago, no one
ever said that a patient was “cured” of cancer and the popular terms
were “remission” and sometimes “vacation,” which meant the cancer
was taking a break but would surely come back.
Today, the words warriors want and do hear more and more often are
“cancer free.”
Please join Lincoln Daily News in sending out a prayer that Jim and
Stacy will be hearing those words very soon.
[Nila Smith] |
