The Story of Zac Stice

This is the story of Zac Stice.

No doubt a cancer diagnosis is a life changer, your schedule changes, your family has to make changes, you may even have to travel regularly or move to a different area. But it doesn't all have to be negative. I was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in December of 2013. At the time I was an engineer working in research and development, a husband of 2 years and father of a beautiful 1 year old son. Needless to say the news changed a lot of our plans. I had a port installed in my left chest on Christmas Eve by a fantastic surgeon and then started a chemotherapy protocol on January 3, 2014 in Tulsa at St. John's. After a few treatments there I started researching the best opportunities for me which eventually led me to a great Oncologist at Stephenson Cancer Center. Fortunately my job allowed me to pick up and move to the Oklahoma City area to pursue treatment there. The best advice I can give is to advocate for yourself, find a treatment plan and facility that works for your specific case, then find balance in your life. Do not let the treatment control your schedule any more than necessary, continue to be active, keep your routine as well as possible, your body needs to stay strong.

No matter the diagnosis it's important to keep a positive attitude through it all and try to find the positives in your new lifestyle. Beyond being a disease it is more importantly a unique life experience that you get to endure and you should take the time to learn about it, and make the effort to be educated about your condition and treatment. More importantly develop the empathy for what the people around you are going through and how you can do little things to make others lives better.

Zac Stice

Goodbyes Are Never Easy

I just got home from one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.

We all know death is synonymous with cancer, but when you see a good person and friend suffering at the end of their fight it feels even more like an atrocity.

In early 2013, during my chemotherapy  I began distributing Cancer Care Packs to patients in the chemo room fighting beside me. During one of those"Care Pack Runs" I met Zac and his mom. Zac was my age, just barely 30, and fighting colon cancer that had metastasized to his liver. Zac and I connected through our shared struggle of battling cancer at a young age, and I grew particularly close to his mother who I loved through prayer and frequent conversation.

This past Monday I received word that Zac was put on Hospice. As I left the Cancer center today, where Zac and I first met, I received a text from his mother stating  Hospice said he was fading  fast, and asked if I would come to see him. My strength and FAITH immediately felt faulty, and I was overcome with emotions, anger, and grief.

During my 45 minute drive to Norman I prayed for strength. I wanted to be strong for Zac and his family as they'd shown such grace and strength through a very unfair situation. No amount of prayer, however, can prepare you for the first time you lay eyes on a friend who is very near death. Zac had gotten so bad so quickly, and at that moment I almost wasn't sure what to say.

I had stopped on the way down to buy Zac a "Clinging Cross". It is something I used during my own suffering, and made to easily grip in your hands. It also comes with a poem...

"When my mind is fuzzy and eyes filled with tears, I will think about your suffering Lord and now that you are near". When I recited those words Zac quietly said, "boy I need to hear that".

As I placed the cross in Zac's frail hand and gripped it tightly between mine I began to do the only thing I could, pray...

"Lord you are limitless, you are not bound by death, or cancer, or any trial we face on this Earth. Lord you love my friend Zac, and have promised him a Heaven that is so perfect it is beyond comprehension, and our wildest dreams. Lord, you overcame death on the cross, and the evil that thought it had won when you were crucified, dead, and buried. You conquered death and rose again, promising to go before us and make a place for all who believe in you, and ask for forgiveness. Lord be near Zac, send your best angels to bring Him into your presence. His fight has inspired many".

Until we meet again someday Zac!

Tarah

These are just the beginning of all that he does, merely a whisper of his power. Who, then, can comprehend the Thunder of His Power? Job 26:14

Tarah Warren

 

 

 

My name is Tarah Warren, and I’m a Stage IV Ovarian Cancer Survivor. I was diagnosed with metastasized Ovarian Cancer in November of 2012, and since then endured two surgeries and sixteen months of chemo. Everybody knows cancer is a strenuous and excruciating battle, but you don’t truly understand the strength it takes to keep fighting until you are in the midst of the battle. After two surgeries my oncologist directed me to Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy, which she said could double my life expectancy. The only problem, it’s much more intensive and nausea inducing because they pump the chemo directly into your abdomen through a port tied to your rib. During my chemo the effort it took to open doors, or just get out of bed was almost more than what’d become my 90lb frame could endure. Despite the rigorous and painful battle, each day I made a conscious effort to fight the cancer with all the tenacity I could, and I was blessed with prayers and support from many around the country who reminded me of my cancer slogan “Fight Like a Girl”!

 

 

I’m now a year out of chemo, cancer free, and proud to say the Director and Founder of a 501c3, OKC based charity, Tenaciously Teal (T. Teal). T. Teal is a Non-Profit dedicated to meeting the needs of cancer fighters through gas/meal cards, distributing Cancer Care Packs, and throwing private Brave Shave parties for those facing hair loss to cancer treatment. T. Teal grew out of my desire to spread hope and light to many I observed who were in the midst of darkness, a good description for a cancer battle. T. Teal evolved over time, but started with a Tenaciously Teal blogspot where I wrote about life, God, and Cancer. Teal is the color for Ovarian Cancer Awareness a color intended to bring awareness to a disease 1 and 73 women will be diagnosed with in their lifetime. After my second surgery, I spent a week in the hospital, and was encouraged to walk as much as I could. While I perused the hallways to maintain my strength, I was in awe of how many people around me who were grappling with a cancer diagnosis. A poignant moment in my fight was the realization many were battling with little to NO support, which is when I became determined to spread hope in a tangible way.

 

During my chemo treatment I started bringing a few “Cancer Care Packs” to patients I came across who were in need. I sold many teal bracelets and t-shirts, and used the money to purchase items to put in the Care Packs. A Care Pack included things I utilized during my own fight; hand sanitizer, protein bars, Kleenex, chapstick, green tea, warm/fuzzy socks, journals/ puzzle books etc. What started as a few Care Packs quickly grew to 40-50 each time I went to chemo. T. Teal now distributes Cancer Care Packs at six metro infusion/radiation centers, and we’ve mailed over 100 Cancer Care Packs to fighters across the U.S. In addition, T. Teal gave $4,000 in gas and meal cards to patients identified as being in need in 2014, and we’ve given out over 1,000 Cancer Care Packs. I believe the most meaningful thing you can do in this life is be kind to others, and do unto others as you’d want them to do for you, if one day you found yourself in the midst of darkness. And one more thing..Fight Like a Girl!!

 

For more information go to:  www.tteal.org

 

 

T. Teal and Beauti on The Go

I met the lovely and vivacious Brandi, Creative Director of Beauti on the Go when her team did hair and make-up for my best friend's wedding.  The June date was just a month after I'd finished twenty rounds of chemo, and although I felt so blessed to be a part of the special day, I had that "I've got Cancer" look to me, and wasn't exactly wedding ready. I was weak, frail, and without hair, eyelashes or eyebrows, which all made me nervous about standing up in front of everyone.

Sitting in Brandi's chair, she recognized my concern, and she met it with compassion and understanding. While she attended to my "Beauti" dilemma we talked about my treatment and ministry of delivering Cancer Care Packs to those I noticed who were hurting.
 

Brandi helped me have the courage to stand and honor my friend, and also somehow got eyelashes to stay on throughout a night of dancing, despite having any real ones to hold them up. She also believed in T. Teal when it was just in its' baby stages, and encouraged me to keep spreading kindness. Brandi did what she could to support the ministry, and promoted T. Teal at Beauti on the Go Bridal Soiree's with the help of my friends.

When I went back to San Diego in March for my bestie's baby shower she organized a photo shoot at her downtown loft for the three of us. The shoot included lots of pictures, locations, and personal styling/makeup. We had the perfect day of pampering and laughing. We were grateful for togetherness, as well as what we've been through and overcome! One of the many cancer silver linings is the appreciation you gain for those dearest to you...I know I am thankful for these girls. We have been the best of friends for over 16 years, and they spent several weeks in OKC when I was at my worst to make sure I got the best care. Thank you Brandi for allowing us this time and opportunity to capture our friendship and love for one another! http://beautionthego.com/

T. Teal on KFOR Rise and Shine

Just Call it a Brave Shave

Tenaciously Teal, a 501c3 charity, launched "Brave Shave" parties in February, and we were honored to host our very first Brave Shave for Mandy Johnson and several of her friends and family. Mandy tackled the difficult aspect of losing hair to cancer treatment with courage and beauty! Here is a video to get a glimpse of the evening, and what you can expect when we host a Brave Shave for you or someone you love!

Video of: A Tenaciously Teal Brave Shave

Brave Shave

If you follow Tenaciously Teal on Facebook you've watched the launch of our  Brave Shave parties! A Brave Shave is a private party where a hairstylist, salon space, and hor d' oeuvers are provided to women facing hair loss to cancer treatment. The party is a way for women to tackle this difficult aspect of treatment with courage, and in the company of their family and friends.

The idea of T. Teal throwing Brave Shave parties has been a dream of mine for some time. My desire to include them in T. Teal's services stems from my personal hair loss experience, but to fully understand the inspiration behind the Brave Shave I must take you back a little. My mom battled Stage 3c Breast Cancer almost 10 years ago. A decade ago it was much harder for women battling cancer to grapple with the issue of hair loss, because women didn't go without a scarf or a wig in public, and there certainly weren't charities offering women the opportunity to shave their head.  

After my first round of chemo, and the impending doom of each hair follicle was inevitable, I made the decision to shave my head! I couldn't watch my hair fall out on my pillow each morning or clog the shower drain, but without shaving my head this was unavoidable. Following my initial round of chemo, I was talking to my youngest sister about my plans, and I could tell it struck a chord with her. See, my little sister Marla was just in junior high when our mother began chemotherapy in Oregon, and my sister Andrea and I were attending college in Oklahoma. I'd never heard the story before, but my sister recalled the night she realized my mother was sacrificing her hair in order to save her life. She heard crying coming from the bathroom, and when she opened the door that night she realized the reason for all the tears. Our mom was kneeling, grasping her head, and overwhelmed at the amount of fallen hair lying at the bottom of the cold tub. 

This story impacted me greatly, my heart ached for my young sister, there without her two older sisters to lean on, and for my mom; alarmed, scared, alone. The story affirmed my decision to shave my head, so in the company of a small group of friends, with some good food and good music, my hairstylist came to my home on a warm Sunday afternoon in January and we just shaved it (hopefully there's a bird nest with Tarah hairs some where, haha) Anyway, we laughed, we definitely cried, but we were not alone!

My mom, my two sisters (L to R: Marla Gurney, Andrea Mosshart)
oh and me, all together for my last round of chemo and graduation!

This is the inspiration behind the Brave Shave parties, and I would like to dedicate them to my beautiful, tenacious, smart, caring, strong and courageous mom!!! I love you!

Cancer Can Take our Hair but it CANT Take our Courage!! www.tteal.org