Hello friends,

The Angels Among Us 5K hit different this year 

Stacia’s Strong Like Bull team grew from 2 to 47.  Last year, we raised about $100.  This year, we raised over $7,000.  Several dear framily (friends/family = friends are family) flew or drove to Durham to participate in the event.  Thank you again to everyone who donated to support the cause or thought about us today. Shout out to all the framily who put on their t-shirts and ran at home – we heard from you and we love you! 

The parental units arrived on Friday along with aunt Margie, and sweet cousins Jessie and Melanie. Mom and Margie promptly started cooking: chicken, >8 lbs. of pork, collards and carrots plus homemade cookies for a post-race party. Food is love ❤️ 

Stacia and Rankin’s friends are a brand that anyone is fortunate to find in this life.  Loyal, loving, lasting, and laughing often. Lori and Julie and Rachel have known Stacia ~20 years = sorority sisters at EKU. Jennica and Stacia were roommates, and Jennica’s insight and care has been especially special.  Then there’s Dave and Nikki.  Dave rolled my luggage a mile without a second thought. Nikki intimidated Stacia the very first time they met, but once they’d had a roadie and real conversation… well, they’re besties for life.  Last night at dinner, Nikki asked, “can you all remember this time last year?”.  Oh yes, we can, and it was a completely different vibe 

One year ago, Stacia had just had a complex awake craniotomy.  Rankin, Stephanie and I were called into a consult room where Dr. Friedman said, “we got it all”, dropped the mike, then asked us about bourbon country. He does not waste words!  

Stacia said that God has winked at her throughout this entire journey.  (We call God winks those fortuitous coincidences that are too closely aligned for chance).  She’s felt and seen them constantly over the past year. Her friend Ross gifted her a stuffed bull with a gold chain and said, “be strong like bull”. This was before she knew that she’d be at Duke (home of the Durham Bulls) for surgery.  Dr. Friedman called her direct as she was scheduling with Cleveland Clinic = the call she’d been waiting for. I remember her saying that it was like something pulled them down to Duke.  The day that they drove down; there was gorgeous weather, zero traffic, and appointments waiting on them when they arrived 

Last night, I heard Rankin say, “I love Duke Health. The End”.  Among this crew, the love for Duke University is within its healthcare expertise alone. We won’t mention the unmentionables for those of us who bleed blue. #BBN

Today at the race, the Strong Like Bull team was surrounded by people who radiated love, kindness, and raw appreciation for their presence and each other.  Stacia was called on stage with about 30 other survivors; they all chatted about their surgeons, experiences, and anniversaries (several of which involved Dr. Friedman).  She met someone who had surgery the same week just last year – and someone who was 16 years out.  Trust me: Angels Among Us is a powerful event.  Whether you run or walk or crawl it, knowing that everyone alongside you has relatable experiences, with loved ones fighting for their life, faith for the next scan, dreams dashed and realized, grief, joy, gratitude, goodness.  All of this keeps you moving forward, one stride at a time.  The finish line was thick with people cheering for you, but they’re not just cheering for you – they’re cheering for their loved ones too, fighting their fight and living their life out loud.  One stride at a time, one day at a time. The best way.