Current & Past Articles » General News

“It’s been quite a journey”: Lucie Stangroom faces kidney battle with gratitude and strength

October 9, 2025   ·   0 Comments

By Riley Murphy

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Lucie Stangroom has always lived her life for others; now, once again left with a failing kidney, she’s learning to live for herself.

Lucie is 50 years old and urgently needs a second kidney transplant. 

After battling chronic illness her entire life, with a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease at just 14, and later diagnosed with fibromyalgia at 22, at 19, she was diagnosed with kidney failure.

At 23, she received a living donor kidney transplant from her sister, because of which she was able to enjoy almost three decades of independence.

Her sister, Julie-Anne, shared that she didn’t give it a second thought before donating her kidney to her sister.

“I don’t think I ever thought this would come again where I’d have to have another surgery because it’s in your mind, but you think it’s never going to happen,” says Lucie.

Now, Lucie is facing the reality of her kidney only operating at ten per cent.

“Going out of your way is on your way,” Lucie says in response to hearing from her friend and sister that she always goes out her way to look after others.

“It’s been quite a journey, and now it’s just I have to stop and take care of myself, which I’ve never done, so it’s new and it’s interesting.”

She shared that, through it all, she has been supported by her sister, and her friend, Caledon resident Annette Corsetti. 

“I don’t really have a bucket list because everything I wanted to do, I did it. You call everybody, you tell them you love them and you just live your life. It’s just too short. And most people don’t know that until they have some sort of a situation,” says Lucie.

“I’m just extremely grateful that the team here is lifting me up on their wings and it’s unbelievable. It’s so much for my head to feel so much love. It’s unbelievable.”

During one of many ER visits, Annette suggested she should create a GoFundMe to help with her overwhelming and increasing medical debt.

Annette shared that she and Lucie were sitting laughing at some of the things people were raising money for on the platform.

“If people can ask strangers for money to pay for a dream vacation to Paris, why not ask them to help you pay for medication while you are fighting for your life,” Annette said to Lucie.

Annette has been organizing multiple garage sales and different types of fundraisers to raise money for Lucie.

“It’s something that comes natural to me, but it’s so much easier to do because it’s for you,” Annette said to Lucie.

The two have been friends for decades.

They have currently raised $5,000 of their $25,000 goal on their GoFundMe page.

Additionally, their friend of over 30 years, Richard Sales, chose to support Lucie’s fundraising efforts during a golf tournament he was hosting for his company, R. Sales and Associates Private Wealth Management.

R. Sales & Associates’ golf tournament raised more than $4,000 in a single day.

The funds raised so far provide Lucie the ability to save her strength and determination to fight for her life, shared Annette.

“The amount of support that I’ve got is just – it’s mind-blowing. It’s absolutely mind-blowing. And I’m just very appreciative,” says Lucie.

However, the two shared that the GoFundMe total is just a fraction of what Lucie requires.

After working for 35 years, she can no longer work and is now on long-term disability (LTD), which covers less than 20 per cent of her medical expenses and daily needs.

Her insurance, as well, is currently maxed out with her current medications and treatments, often leaving her to pay out of pocket.

“I have to pay for all my medication, which is over a thousand a month.” 

Lucie’s giving spirit prevails throughout, as she is currently learning how to administer her own dialysis at home.

“I wanted to give that spot to someone who needs more one-on-one care,” says Lucie.

She shares that every day presents a new challenge: “You just wake up and go deal with it, but I’m very grateful to be alive.”

Currently going to dialysis twice a week, she will soon be able to have dialysis at home every night, which will be “life-saving.”

After a year on dialysis, she will be able to once again be on the transplant list.

Lucie shares that once she’s stable, she wants to return to school, where she was working towards being a personal service worker.

As Lucie continues to fight the long battle still to come, her one wish for those is to sign their organ donor card.

“Every cadaver could save [up to] eight people’s lives,” she shares.

To view or donate to Lucie’s GoFundMe, visit www.gofundme.com/f/help-lucie-stangroom-get-a-lifesaving-2nd-kidney-transplant.

Readers Comments (0)