• Skip to main content
#TelemedNow
Stacy Hurt Logo
  • About
    • About Me
    • Medical Details
    • Bio
    • Fun Facts!
    • Advocacy
      • FREE Resources
      • Hidden Disabilities
  • Speaking
    • Portfolio
  • Consulting
  • Blog
  • Contact
Stacy Hurt Logo
  • About
    • About Me
    • Medical Details
    • Bio
    • Fun Facts!
    • Advocacy
      • FREE Resources
      • Hidden Disabilities
  • Speaking
    • Portfolio
  • Consulting
  • Blog
  • Contact

Cancer Sucks

The Importance of Being a Great Friend

October 22, 2015 by Stacy Hurt

A gift Tina gave me – it is the Stand Up 2 Cancer Alex and Ani bracelet – you better believe I will, dear friend!!

I lost a dear friend (Tina) last night to Stage IV colon cancer.  She was 60.  Even though we only knew each other for a year (we met at chemo), we crammed a lifetime into that short period.  We lived 10 minutes apart and spoke pretty much every day about our good days and bad.  We shared laughs over pooping our pants (a fact of life after colon resection surgery) and tears over setbacks.  I will miss her spirit so much, and I will defeat this dreaded disease in her honor.  I have a close family member that also has the same diagnosis as me (I know, right?! what are the chances?).  Drew (my husband) told me the day after I got home from my surgery, and I am still in disbelief.  We also battle together and we are both moving forward.

So, I got thinking about true friendship, a theme that has really hit home during my illness.  I will never forget who was there for me at the beginning and who has remained steadfast in their support all the way through.  Some friends never really “show up” and some disappear after a token card or sentiment.  My battle will be going on a looooong time… so I treasure the ones who have stuck with me all this time and will stick with me forever.

I thought about the time that Tina asked me to drive her to her scan.  It was probably the last thing I wanted to do.  Number one, I felt like crap that day.  Number two, I sure as hell don’t want to go to the scan center if I don’t have to.  It conjures nothing but stress and anxiety for me.  Number three, I have about a million things going on at all times, whether it’s my actual day job, or something for my disabled son, or something for my typical son, or laundry (we have a lot of laundry in this house…), etc. And number four, they tell me that I have Stage IV cancer myself and need to “rest.” (sure, “rest”…). But then I thought, my friend needs me and I need to suck it up and do this for her.  Her results were good from that scan and we had a lovely lunch afterwards.  I will always remember that day and how important it was now that she has moved on to heaven.  There was another time that a good friend of mine (Erin) wanted to drive me to Starbucks soon after my surgery as a treat.  I was in a ton of pain and had a huge binder around my middle to hold me together to heal.  I could barely walk.  I asked her if she could take me to see Tina.  It was also an important day because it was the first time I got to meet one of the most important people in her life, her boyfriend Jeff.  Needless to say, Jeff and I ended up talking A LOT, especially these past few weeks.  I’ll always remember that day, too, because she was so happy and glowing, and proud to introduce me to him.  It was a special day.

So my point here is instead of making an “EXcuse” about all the reasons that you can’t be a friend; make an “INcuse” to show up and DO IT.  It may be inconvenient; you may be uncomfortable; it may be expensive; there may be prohibitive forces…but BE THE GREAT FRIEND!  Overcome those forces against you to show your friend that you are with her (him) in good times and in really, really bad ones as well!  Trust me, it will mean the world to them, and you are guaranteed to have a moment that you will never forget.

Peace in your world today,

Stacy

Filed Under: Cancer Sucks, Friendship

RECENT POSTS

Define Fine

By Stacy Hurt | March 15, 2018

Website 2.0 – Why It’s So Important to Me

By Stacy Hurt | January 27, 2018

Social Media 101: From a Techno Dinosaur

By Stacy Hurt | March 16, 2017

TWEETS

Stacy HurtFollow

Stacy Hurt
stacy_hurtStacy Hurt@stacy_hurt·
16h

Real estate peeps: If you’re going to continue to build upside down beach houses, please make an elevator standard in them. And don’t charge a million dollars to rent it. We shouldn’t be disadvantaged because we can’t walk ♿️👨‍🦽Love, Emmett❤️ #disability #caregiver #patients #IDD

Reply on Twitter 1353399181076029442Retweet on Twitter 1353399181076029442Like on Twitter 13533991810760294423Twitter 1353399181076029442
Retweet on TwitterStacy Hurt Retweeted
Gil_BasheGIL BASHE@Gil_Bashe·
23 Jan

@SparklyPinchy @dkyne @SimoneElviss @pfizer @annalisec @3MonkeysZeno @saysaman Great read. Thanks @Provoke_News. Honored to join these #health communicators in discussing how to improve #PatientCare! Beyond #COVID19 and #vaccinations, we have numerous - solvable - #publichealth challenges we must engage. #Collaboration #makeadifference

Reply on Twitter 1353122330214604800Retweet on Twitter 13531223302146048004Like on Twitter 135312233021460480011Twitter 1353122330214604800
stacy_hurtStacy Hurt@stacy_hurt·
23 Jan

I think it takes a big person to admit you’re sending everyone a canned (rather than personal) response 😂 #COVID19 #CovidVaccine #patients

Reply on Twitter 1353107215171907588Retweet on Twitter 1353107215171907588Like on Twitter 13531072151719075881Twitter 1353107215171907588

FACEBOOK

Stacy Hurt - Advocate / Speaker / Consultant

4 days ago

Stacy Hurt - Advocate / Speaker / Consultant
Great to speak to the Red Hat sales team today about humanizing healthcare, the power of open source solutions, connecting to end users (patients) and democratizing data through examples from my personal & professional experience. Proud to represent the patient/caregiver voice in healthcare development. lnkd.in/e7eWhJX#digitalhealth #TelemedNow #technology #healthcare #patients #patientexperience #interoperability ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Stacy Hurt - Advocate / Speaker / Consultant

5 days ago

Stacy Hurt - Advocate / Speaker / Consultant
Honored and grateful to be invited to join this prestigious team! I am committed to solidifying telemedicine as a permanent platform in the patient care continuum. Representing patients and caregivers in decisions about healthcare is an important part of my mission as an advocate. Today is a great day for the patient voice!! 💪🎉twitter.com/arwmd/status/1351641677237256197?s=21 ... See MoreSee Less

Andrew Watson MD MLitt on Twitter

twitter.com

“Hey #TelemedNow, our core team met - @AmiBhattMD @iamritu @jameyedwards @CeciConnolly @HelenBurstin We are excited to announce 2 new team members 👊👍 @stacy_hurt @Lacktman ! Fantastic and long...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Stacy Hurt - Advocate / Speaker / Consultant

2 weeks ago

Stacy Hurt - Advocate / Speaker / Consultant
Like you, I watched the events of this week with a combination of disgust, fear, and sadness. What has happened to our country and why? We need to make a better effort to communicate with each other and understand one another. Also to lead our interactions with gratitude and empathy. I made a video to say why I voted the way I did and what was important to me. I would hope that each of you could articulate the same, intelligently and civilly. If things like white supremacy, force, extremism, homophobia, and the rich getting richer while the poor get poorer are among those, then my page isn’t for you. This past year I saw way too much “me for me” instead of “me for we.” Let’s each commit to waking up every morning and thinking “Who can I help today?” Might be a solid yet simple start to beginning to heal. Or at least I hope so. 🙏🤞 ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Important Note

I do NOT provide medical advice. No one can diagnose your condition from written or oral transmission, and communication via my website does not replace the relationship you have with a physician or another health care practitioner. I always recommend assembling a team of trusted health care professionals to guide your medical decisions.

© 2018 Stacy Hurt. All Rights Reserved. | Site collaboration by One Eleven Design & Wayout Design.