Kolleen with Dr. Manahan

Kolleen with Dr. Manahan

On Friday night, shortly after 9 p.m., we lost a friend and  a champion.   Kolleen Stacey was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1997. Kolleen testified in front of Congress to get a bill passed called “Johanna’s Law,” designed to raise awareness about ovarian cancer, which passed into law in 2007. Surviving are her husband, Bill L. Stacey of New Palestine, children, Angie Stacey Cole (husband Scott) of Phoenix, AZ and Bill R. Stacey (wife Lynne) of New Palestine, brother, David Schriefer of Worthington, IN, and grandsons, Ethan and Colin Stacey.   We send our condolences to the Stacey family.

Below are a few words that describe my thoughts about Kolleen.

Celebrating a True Friend

On Thursday, July 9, 2009 just past noon, I said good bye in person to a dear friend for the last time on this side of eternity.  Kolleen Stacey, a champion, a survivor, an advocate, and most importantly a friend succumbed to her nearly 12 year battle with ovarian cancer.

As I drove away from the Stacey home with tears in my eyes, I recalled all the memories that Kolleen and I have made over the last nearly three years.  The first time I met Kolleen was when she came to talk about Johanna’s Law to one of our first ever WORD events.  She was in active chemo and was in the throws of nausea and exhaustion.  I remember meeting her as her husband Bill helped her into the building.  She came in and laid down on a bench and waited for her time to talk.  When it was time, it was as if she had all the energy in the world.  She spoke with passion, commitment, and energy about the need to raise awareness about a dreaded disease.  Her delivery and her courage were inspiring. I knew I needed to know this lady more.

WORD  is a unique as a cancer organization.  We are centralized around scientists and medical professionals to bring together the necessary resources to help them create the best campaigns and promote scientific discovery. We exist to conquer gynecologic cancers, and much of my time is spent with doctors, scientists, nurses, and marketing professionals who create the campaigns and initiate the research that will save lives.  I don’t get to spend a huge amount of time with the true heroes who fight these dreaded diseases.

This is why my time with Kolleen was so special.  Over the last three years, Kolleen and I met, talked, shared and strategized ways to raise funds, raise awareness, and ultimately conquer this disease that now has taken her life.  Kolleen never stopped fighting.   Painting pictures, making jewelry, giving speeches, testifying in front of Congress and buying groceries all were wrapped up in her arsenal to fight for more funding, more awareness, more research, and a CURE!  She never stopped believing, never stopped sharing, and never stopped loving.  I am so thankful for all I have learned from her in the last years.

WORD honored Kolleen by naming our ovarian cancer early detection research program in her honor.  We could not think of a better name for a more noble program. Kolleen rallied her friends and family to defeat this disease.  She did all this with a gentle, but firm spirit that called to action and inspired us that someday there will women who will conquer ovarian cancer.

Today I am sad.  I have lost a friend.  I will miss meeting at Cracker Barrel. I will miss the times sitting in her front room with her dogs by her side.  I will miss here gentle spirit and rugged determination that inspires me to push for more awareness, earlier tests, better treatments,  and a cure for this disease every day.   I am a different person because I met Kolleen Stacey.  The world is a different place because of Kolleen Stacey.  Today, I miss my friend.