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By Tim Hadac
Editor
Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound
(708)-496-0265
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Clearing and Garfield Ridge have earned a reputation as a place where people look out for each other—and that sometimes means caring for each other in times of need.
Today, I want to talk about one such person, who sure could use a boost from us all right about now.
Stacy Cygan grew up in the McKinley Park area, graduating from Kelly High School in 1987. But for more than 20 years, she has called Garfield Ridge home.
In the last couple of years, she has been caring for her elderly mother, who is afflicted with dementia.
But on top of that, Stacy has been fighting stage 4 colorectal cancer for seven months. Worse, it has metastasized to her liver and lungs.
“It has been a whirlwind of medical care ever since,” her friend, Brandi, says. “Hospital stays, procedures, aggressive chemotherapy and radiation to name just a few, and Stacy still has a long road ahead with multiple surgeries, as well as more aggressive treatments.”
As Stacy recently wrote in a social media post, “I have undergone months of intense chemotherapy and radiation treatments–when I say brutal, I mean brutal…not only was the radiation invasive and painful, but the side effects of the chemo and radiation together, were difficult, to say the least.”
Anyway, Stacy is applying for long-term disability and no longer has an income.
Last I checked, she was in the hospital and in a lot of pain after two surgeries—with more surgeries ahead.
Stacy Cygan needs our help, both as individuals and as a community.
A GoFundMe page launched to help her has hit a plateau at just $2,160 from 36 people. But I suspect that’s because a lot of folks aren’t aware of the page yet.
Right now, I’m helping change that and asking everyone to head over to https://gofund.me/9f9404c3 and give Stacy the boost she needs. Will you please join me in doing that?
In other news
- Final call for the pancake breakfast set for 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, April 28 at Brennan Hall, 54th and Natoma. Enjoy pancakes, eggs, sausage, orange juice and milk. Admission is $10 for adults (with a $2 discount for senior citizens), $5 for children age 6-12, and no charge for the wee ones. The event is hosted the Knights of Columbus Cardinal Cody Assembly 8264. For details, call Tony Bilskov at (773) 484-9798.
- Please remember to have cash on you and donate freely when you’re approached by a Misericordia Candy Days volunteer on Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27. Candy Days was in mothballs during the pandemic, but now it’s back.
Volunteers should be in front of storefronts, train stations, banks, schools and churches, but not on the streets and not in traffic. If you’re not approached by a volunteer during this 39th annual event but want to help, please visit misericordia.com. Misericordia has for many years served people with mild to profound developmental disabilities.
That’s all for this week. Please remember, this column exists for you. So if you have any news to share, please reach out. Thanks.