The Christmas season is full of Hallmark romance movies. But here is a love story..
that doesn’t fit any script.
A Magna couple has supported
each other through cancer and
health issues, far beyond
their years. And put to test
the vow to love, "In Sickness
and in Health."
:122:37 "IT’S ALMOST
IMPOSSIBLE TO BE UNHAPPY
AROUND HIM." Ricky and
Lexie Stafford are young, just
23 and 21. But their
challenges resemble those of a
couple in their golden years.
RICKY STAFFORD: "THE JOY IN
OUR LIVES HAS LITTLE TO DO
WITH OUR TRIALS They’ve
gained early wisdom.BUT
EVERYTHING TO DO WITH HOW WE
FACE THOSE TRIALS, RIGHT?"
They get lots of practice.
"AT FIRST IT WAS ANNOYING."
Twice each day, "AND TIME
CONSUMING." Lexie and Ricky
Stafford prep feeding bags
"AND IT STILL IS AT TIMES."
and mix a few dozen
medications into a cocktail.
"MY PAIN, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION,
ACID REFLUX." On this
night, "WE DIDN’T REALIZE
THERE WERE HAND CRANK PILL
CRUSHERS. LIFESAVERS."
they’re grateful for time
together and everyday moments.
RICKY STAFFORD: "YOU LEARN TO
BE GRATEFUL FOR THINGS YOU
NORMALLY WOULDN’T BE THANKFUL
FOR." That’s the theme of
their relationship. They met
in the cancer ward at Primary
Children’s Hospital. "SHE
WAS 15 OK. I WAS 17." He
had leukemia, she had stage
four neuroblastoma, a tumor
the size of a cantaloupe. "IT
HAD ENCASED ALL MY MAJOR
ORGANS." "I WAS REALLY, REALLY
SICK." Throughout their
treatments, the teens grew
close - sharing stories,
comparing scars, and finally,
going into remission. "EVER
SINCE THEN WE’VE BEEN BEST
FRIENDS." THE NEXT MILESTONE
WAS WHEN I RELAPSED ON MY
CHURCH MISSION." About two
years later, Ricky’s leukemia
came back with a vengeance.
Too sick to come home for
treatment, Lexie visited New
York to be his cheerleader.
LEXIE: "WHEN HE SAW ME HE
STARTED TO CRY AND IT MELTED
MY HEART AND I KNEW. RICKY:
"I DON’T EVEN KNOW IF I WAITED
UNTIL THE END OF THE DAY
BEFORE I GAVE HER A KISS AND
SAID THIS IS HAPPENING."LEXIE:
"YOU KNEW THEN TOO. HE WAS
MINE. GOING TO BE MINE
FOREVER." They got
engaged, believing they knew
what challenges were to come.
RICKY: "I KIND OF SAID, I NEED
YOU TO COMMIT TO ME BEFORE
THINGS GET HARD." LEXIE: "A
LOT OF PEOPLE ASKED,
SPECIFICALLY ME BECAUSE I WAS
HEALTHY AT THE TIME." LEXIE:
"WHY ARE YOU GUYS GETTING
ENGAGED WHEN YOU DON’T EVEN
KNOW IF HE’S GOING TO MAKE
IT.?" "AND WHAT WOULD YOU TELL
THEM? I WOULD TELL THEM, I
DON’T CARE. IT DOESN’T
MATTER. I LOVE HIM AND HE’S
MY PERSON." DID HER FAITH HELP
YOU? YES, THAT’S WHY I WAS SO
QUICK TO GET TO IT, BECAUSE I
NEEDED THE EXTRA SUPPORT."
He would. Ricky’s body
rejected chemo, he endured a
bone marrow transplant.Lexie
helped him recover against all
odds. Healthy again, they
married. About two years
later, "LEXIE STAFFORD: "WE
TAKE TURNS, YES, THAT’S REALLY
HOW IT’S BEEN." Lexie
needed him. "THE BEST THEY
COULD DO WAS SEND ME HOME ON
HOSPICE. AND I WASN’T READY
TO GO YET.." That was
last January. She’d been in
and out of the hospital with
illnesses related to her
cancer treatment. LEXIE: "EVER
AFTER TREATMENT IS DONE,
YOU’RE NEVER REALLY DONE WITH
CANCER. LIKE IT’S JUST A PART
OF YOUR LIFE NOW." Ricky
quit his dream of playing
college basketball to be her
caregiver. He coaches
part-time for the Magna High
School girls’ basketball.
But off the court, team
Stafford has learned to play
by rules that aren’t fair.
LEXIE: "I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE
LEARN FROM THEIR TRIALS AND
BECOME THE PEOPLE THAT THEY
NEED TO BE." Meeting
challenges with kindness
"THANK YOU, THANK YOU."
finding joy in small things
"THERE IT IS, IT GOT ME."
Moments of happiness shadowed
by the health problems that
have become constant
companions. Lexie just
learned her persistent lung
problems--another side effect
of cancer treatment-- are
serious. THE BLUNT VERSION IS
LIKE THE BEGINNING STAGES OF
LUNG FAILURE." "DEFINITELY A
BUMMER ON THAT ONE. YEA, BUT
THAT’S OKAY, YEA." As
most couples their age face
issues of raising children,
starting careers...theirs is a
different perspective. "WE GET
CALLED OLD SOULS PRETTY
OFTEN." "WE DO UNDERSTAND WHAT
IT’S LIKE TO ENDURE PHYSICAL
DIFFICULTIES, EMOTIONAL
DIFFICULTIES. AND THAT STUFF
USUALLY COMES LATER IN LIFE,
RIGHT?" They don’t know
how much time they have left,
but they’ll live life to the
fullest. RICKY: "WHEN WE GOT
MARRIED, WE KNEW WE WERE NEVER
GOING TO BE 80 YEAR OLDS ON
OUR FRONT PORCH HOLDING HANDS
LOOKING INTO THE SUNSET." "IT
MIGHT BE 10 YEARS, IT MIGHT BE
ONE YEAR, IT MIGHT BE 10 DAYS.
WE DONT KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE
HOLDS, BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW IS
THAT WE CAN SIT AND WASTE IT
AWAY."
Pretty profound.I told
them, they know things that
many of us are still figuring
out. Their attitudes are
inspiring.