Hello friends, and welcome back to Unmasking the Heart for Change, the podcast where we peel back the layers and uncover the real raw stories that fuel transformation, one powerful conversation at a time.
I'm your host, Tammy Winstead, and I'm truly grateful you're here with us today. Your time, your heart and your willingness to listen mean the world to me and my guest. Today's guest is living proof that even the face of unimaginable pain, we can still rise, still laugh, and still give.
Laura Fletcher is a fighter, a caregiver, and advocate, and the heartbeat behind Cooking for a Cure, her journey through cancer multiple times didn't break her spirit. It sparked a movement.
Laura, thank you so much for being with us today. To get us started, can you introduce yourself and share a little about who you are behind all the titles and roles
Thank you so much for having me today. I've been looking forward to this and I'm so excited. My name is Laura Fletcher. I live in Leachville Full with my husband Michael. We've been married, since 1996. I'm originally a Seneath girl, so I'm a Missouri Boot heel girl. Originally. We have a daughter, Katie, and she lives in Starkville.
And, all throughout my career I was an LPN, haven't worked since 2017. Had to put my nursing license on, inactive status because my body just would not allow me to really work and function anymore. So, but I'm so happy to be here and do this with you today.
I've been looking for this. I barely slept last night. I was so excited to get here.
Me wanted to come and talk. Take two.
Me too.
Okay. So let's start by peeling back the curtain on your journey one filled with grief, grit, and a kind of perseverance most of us can't begin to fathom. Take us back to 2008. Your first diagnosis came just months after losing your dad. What do you remember about that time
What do I remember about that time? Well, I can't remember what I did yesterday or the date, but the day that I went back for my follow up, the day that he told me that I had cancer was October the 16th, 2008, and I'll never forget that day in my whole life.
And I was there. I had gone back for my checkup and like he was. I could hear him go into all the other rooms and I felt like he's skipping me. This is bad. This is really bad. And I was calling my friend Keely. I was like, he is skipping over me. He's saving me to the last, because it's bad. She's like, stop freaking out.
It's okay. Well, it was, and so, you know, he immediately referred me, to Memphis West Clinic to my oncologist, Dr. Todd Tillman's there. I remember driving home that day, and the first person I called, was my husband. And he's like, what? I'm leaving work. I'm meeting you there.
Like, I didn't even cry at that moment, I don't think, because even though I was in shock, I wasn't, because for like that whole week waiting on the biopsy results, like, I thought there's no way. I mean, it, it's ca there's no way it's not cancer. So, you know, my Katie bug was only eight then, and she's 24 now.
So from eight years old. To 24. She's never known me to be well,
Oh.
which is so sad, so sad for her. But I, my main thought was, how am I gonna tell my family when we just lost my dad six months ago, and how am I gonna tell my Katie bug? Because when she hears the word cancer, then the first thing she thinks is you're gonna die at eight years old.
I mean, what else are you gonna think?
Mm-hmm.
So I was just kind of like numb. I really didn't cry till later that night and days to come, 'cause of the unknown, the doctor told me, he said, you're probably gonna have surgery, may have to have chemo, may have to have radiation at that time, all that.
It was just a really dark time, but I had to pull myself up. I did get down then because I thought. I'm 30 something years old. How do I have cancer? I'm healthy. I was always a healthy person, right?
You're an LPN, you know what to
look like. I'm a healthy person. Like, never had any health issues.
I had never had surgery or anything until then. The only thing really I had had was childbirth, and that doesn't compare. So, I was worried about everybody else. I was worried about myself, worried about what was coming, but knew that I had to do it. And I was scared to death at that time.
Scared to death. Absolutely scared.
Well, you faced the word cancer more times than anyone should. In those moments of recurrence, what helped you stay grounded and keep going?
My family, my friends, my close friends, my husband and my baby girl. Michael especially was very like encouraging. You can't give up.
Like, we got this, whatever we have to do. He's made the best nurse, when I'm sick or in the hospital, I need him. He knows what I need, what I want, if I'm grouchy, he takes it 'cause he knows I don't mean it. So they kept me going. And then also, even with the second time, more so the third recur recurrence, I thought this is happening for a reason.
There's got to be something good to come out of it. If I could help somebody, what can I do with this? And it kinda sparked a little, you know, advocate in me and like just, I don't know. Then I became, pretty involved with the Relay and I had a big, passion for that. So it brought me into that, but it also brought me into other opportunities with other organizations like speaking and things like that.
I love to get on and, talk about my story and all that. I feel like somebody can benefit from it. Now, the third recurrence was like.
This is bad, bad. I mean, we had several difficult decisions to make with the operation I was gonna have. And my oncologist will tell you today that the last recurrence, the third recurrence was in 2014.
And my, my gynecologic oncologist event, that's a mouthful. My gynecologic oncologist in Memphis will tell you to this day, I don't know how you made it through 2014. Wow.
Pure, grit. I mean, you're a story of hope and you just didn't, you're not going down. You're feisty. You're not going down without a fight.
I have a a little fiestiness in there.
It shows sis. It shows. so you shared about your frozen abdomen and the palliative care. How do you navigate the reality of facing mortality while still choosing to live so intentionally and fully
Well, for several years and it changes sometimes year to year. I've, I have my future planned, I have all that planned.
That gives me peace knowing that, when that time does come, that they won't have a lot to do. They'll know my wishes you can either cry about it, or you can laugh about it. And that's how I have faced this. And, and I'm not saying that I don't have days where I am pissed. Can I say pissed? Yeah.
Yes.
Yeah. There are days that I wake up pissed off at the world, but I have to pull myself out of that. I don't stay in that. I don't let myself stay in that frame of mind because if so, I would never get out of bed.
And, my doctors, I have been so lucky with my medical team and my doctors and nurses, they literally are the best in the world. I have them all on my cell phone. I can text them or call them at any time. How many people have their doctor's cell phones and that they'll actually answer them.
Well, you've been under their care for so
They're just like family. Like, they're just like family. They've literally watched Katie grow up. So my PCP and I sometimes you think, is it time for hospice? When I'm really, really sick, but I'm not ready for hospice and I won't be ready for hospice until the day that I can't get myself out of bed in the morning and get myself dressed.
And that's what my PCP and I talk about. And I have the best PCP in the world, Dr. Megan Liley in Brooklyn. I'm like, how do we know? When is it time? Are you gonna tell me when it's too much? And not that we go to extremes, we just do what needs to be done to keep me going every week. It's not about making me better 'cause there's no making me better.
None at all. It's about keeping me comfortable and going while I'm here. But I'm like, when will we know? And she's like. When you can't get yourself outta bed in the morning, that's when we know we're done. And I don't wanna be, I have known all along, I don't want to be kept alive or anything like that.
But it's just, once again, that feeling that this has happened to me for a reason. What can I do? Where does this take me? And with the third recurrence, that's kind of like when Team Laura came about. My sister-in-law started that. We did our first t-shirt fundraiser, 'cause cancer's expensive, especially in 2014.
It was a very expensive year. We had t-shirts go out to I think seven different states in the United States. Like we did an amazing fundraiser. Just stuff like that, to know how much. Your community and your people care. My Mississippi County people and my Senath, my Duncan County people.
I have so many people that have supported me through this, and that makes it a lot easier. And Michael and Katie, that's what keeps me going.
Well, when you reached out about being on the podcast, I'm not gonna lie, I squealed with
What,
because you're such a pillar of strength in our community.
don't make me cry
Don't. I'm not. But it's true. Like you. I tend to be one also that looks at humor and focuses on humor. And you said how you, don't let yourself stay there.
I have a rule. Anytime I get mad, upset, or frustrated, I will put three songs on. And by that third song, I have to get over it. I can scream, I can yell, I can rant, I can cuss, I can do whatever. But when that third song quits, it's over. And we're getting up, we're putting our big girl panties on, and we're going about our day, we're going about life.
'cause I refuse to sit there
Mm-hmm.
Because the longer you allow yourself to sit there, you start camping. Mm-hmm. And I refuse to camp in
There are days that I have left, a, a doctor's appointment or I go every, Thursday to NEA for infusion. I get fluids and Xan a week. 'cause I just have one kidney and it kind of doesn't want to act right half the time. But even with doctor's appointments and stuff, there are many days that I have left and on my way home, I have just screamed as loud as I could in my car.
Just like are you freaking serious? Or just like ah, just to get it out. And that makes me feel a lot better too. But also something I started doing, and I don't think anybody knows I do this 'cause nobody's around when I do it, but if I get really bad, like I just turn up some music and I just dance it out.
Like not even some pretty dancing either. Just like, you know, just get it out and
get your body moving.
get going and get that good mindset going. And then, right now being outside in the sun helps me so much. First of all, it makes my bones not hurt. It helps my mood and I like to work in my flowers in my backyard and like all that kind of stuff.
Like I said, some days are very hard. Others not so much. But most days if I'm out and have to be out and about, everybody's like, how you doing? I'm okay, but really not like it took everything outta me to, just to get ready and be there and be involved, but.
I wouldn't miss some things for anything in the whole wide world, even if Michael and Katie have to push me up in a wheelchair. Right, right.
right. You've created a really solid team and I think that also helps speak to how many people want to get behind you and support you. It's hard not to want to just jump on your bandwagon and be like,
well, I, I, I hope that's how everybody feels.
Like, you know, I, I hope that's how everybody feels and that's, you know, team Laura that was created. That's what I use on everything, but, our Facebook page too. But it's still, because even after all these years, so many people still follow my story and love me and pray for me every single day
story of hope, like, and
without that, I wouldn't be here. I'm telling you, without all the people that pray for me, there's no way that I would be here at all.
One thing that really stood out and deeply resonated with me in the bio you shared with us on your guest form is your sense of humor. Even in the face of something as heavy as death, as someone who's also fueled by laughter and determined not to let life struggle, steal my joy. I truly appreciated that part of your story.
Let's talk about how humor plays a role in your healing and how others respond to that part of you. You've been so open about your funeral planning and even bringing humor into conversations about death, which is something most people shy away from. Why do you think that kind of openness is important, and what message would you share with others when it comes to preparing for the end of life?
First of all, you have to advocate for yourself and in all kinds of ways, but for your, the final stages of your life while you can advocate for yourself. And before you come into a state that you can't advocate for yourself, talk [00:14:00] about it.
Write it down. I've had a journal. I, I don't journal, but I've had a journal book for years that I've been writing things down for my funeral. I have everything from paw bearers to my casket, to all that kind of thing picked out. I have lists of songs that everybody can pick a song, but these are the songs I want.
I don't want, I mean, it gives me peace of mind too. My best friend says I have control issues, but wait, I don't care what she says anyway. But also that time will be so stressful for my family and my besties. I don't want there to be any more stress on them than there has to be. So if I have all this written down and all you have to do is go through, read some and my daughter, my husband, they know the book and like, I've got to switch over things to my new book that I just, or ordered. My best friend knows because like she will be the one that really comes through at the end because like she won't break down until it's completely over. So she'll come in and take charge and that's great.
Um, but
but
yes, it is a sad time, but I don't want everybody to be sad because I will be in heaven and I will be with people that I have lost that I love so much that I can't wait to see again. And I will be pain free
Yes.
and healthy for the first time since October 16th, 2008. Wow,
Wow. That's how
Now how amazing will that be,
Yes. And do you think too, that maybe you getting, you hearing that word so close to, to laying your father to rest with that same word, do you think that helped guide you on this journey to, you know, what you went through with him? Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm. You know,
it's an emotional time and you do, you fall apart, you think of, and then you get after the funeral and you're like, right.
You get after the funeral and you're like, why didn't we do this? Why didn't we do
Yes. Yes.
So what you're doing for your family is taking the fact that they can be present in their grief, which is so incredibly important and still honor you mm-hmm. To the way they want to. Mm-hmm. Without even really thinking about it.
So you are giving, even in your passing, you are giving them such a gift, Laura, that they
have to take all that out of it. They can just.
and that's what I want it to be, because it is, it's so stressful and it's so sad and it just puts so much more on what they are already going through. So if you can have it planned out. I mean, it's your service. Why would you not plan it? But I have to tell you, I, I've made a change, a recent change to my funeral arrangements. Not many people know this. I only sent it to a couple things, but I saw a video on TikTok recently. And, these kind of things seem to pop, pop up in my feed funeral stuff.
And it was the end of a funeral and nobody knew it. But, the preacher or whoever was doing the service, it was before they were gonna take everybody out. And he's like, the deceased had a request. She wanted everybody to dance it out and to be happy at the end. So Whitney Houston danced with somebody, gotta dance with somebody, was on.
Everybody got up and you could see like the front row in front of the casket. So I don't know if it was parents, brothers, friends or sisters, but they were the last ones to get up. But they got up, they hugged each other and then they started dancing together. Everybody was dancing. Now what would that be like?
Rather than going out to a sad song and all that. So I sent that, to my cousin group. We have a group message. I was like, this is what I want. 'cause I get my cousin here and I sent it to my best friend and said, this is it. She's like, are you [00:18:00] serious? I was like, yes. But she's also the one that I tell her I'm gonna haunt her all the time.
When I come back.
That's so funny because I told my husband I want 'em to figure out like a QR code for everybody to scan. It's there. And then my last request, which I'm putting it out in there now, but I want them to text out. Thanks for coming from my phone.
I, I too, like,
you please do
this? Yes. Yeah. It's dark in here.
Yeah, please don't leave me
Yeah, it's dark in
here.
Oh my gosh. We do have the same humor
We do.
Like Stacey gets it, so, you know, she takes most of it most of the time, but then sometimes she's like, no,
Yeah, you're too far. Too
Too much. Too much.
So speaking of that, how have people responded to your death humor?
Um, my mother doesn't really like it.
Michael and Katie, they truly get it. My best friend Stacey and them get it. Some other [00:19:00] friends they get it, but they don't really think it's been like, you gotta quit talking like that. Or don't say that. I'm like, it's the truth. Let's just talk about it. Like, so, but they, they also know that that's me.
I'm not serious. Let's just have a little celebration. A celebration that, I mean, yes, it's sad I'll be gone, but a celebration that my body is healed. Yes.
Yes. And
What will that feel like? I don't know what that would feel like.
I would say you probably don't remember. I don't, A life that didn't involve some sort of weakness, pain. Since 2014. That's a long time to keep your spirits up. Mm-hmm. I mean,
yeah. And that's the third recurrence. Recurrence, and
yes. Hearing it over and over again to keep your spirits up.
That just. Truly speaks of your grit and your grace and your willingness to have a different approach about it has probably been what has allowed your [00:20:00] body to heal.
Mm-hmm.
Because you haven't carried that you're an LPN, you
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
You haven't carried that stress and that weight. You've allowed yourself to accept
and there are days that I sit around and think about things and , I mean, there, some days I think, it's getting hard and then I'm like, no.
There's so many things like, I wanna see Katie get married, I'd like to have a grand baby, like not anytime soon or anything. But, I think about those things and those are the things also that keep me going. We usually set a goal, we've got Cooking for a Cure coming up in September.
I gotta make it to September for sure. So we set little goals, that's to milestones, like big events coming up, gives me something to look forward to and, kinda work and like maybe rest extra, or doc my doctor will change my medicine a little bit just to like, have,, help me boost up so I'm telling you my doctors are the best.
Like they know that. I'm sick, but I still wanna do and go. So they help me [00:21:00] and that's part of the palliative stuff, just to help me keep going. For right now, it's not gonna cure me, it's not gonna fix anything. But right now that's much more than being in hospice
it helps you live
Mm-hmm. Absolutely. Like living
fully and intentionally, like you are literally living on
Yes. Yes. Your
Your pain has become purpose. You have a purpose until you don't anymore. You're gonna make sure when you get there, you hear absolutely well. Done.
I absolutely. I hope that's what I hear
you have
have.
I, I hope I hear I'm so proud of you, like
Yeah. Because your story is one that will long outlive you. 'cause you have left a legacy. You're still here present, but you have left a
stamp. I hope
on Mississippi County. Hope that is undeniable
so. And relay for
for Life. I squealed, I called, which my husband was like, what's going on? I was like, you wanna understand?
I called my best friend and I'm like, you're not gonna believe who filled out a form. And she's like, who? And I told her, she's like, that's you. And I'm
my gosh.
I like I got a celebrity. Because that's what I felt like,
see. I don't think of myself that way at all. Like, you know,
I
don't have a problem talking to anybody. Like,
and your story is so strong that it just, I'm so glad we're getting, I'm getting the honor of helping you capture it. And push it out to more people. I can't wait to process this episode and get it out.
I have to tell you another thing about the medical humor and stuff. So, in 2016, so all the treatment and stuff like damaged my, like mostly the radiation that I had in 2010, it like fried my insides. And I remember, my doctor telling me. I'm just gonna tell you now, radiation is the gift that keeps giving.
And boy do I know it. That's what's destroyed me. I mean, along with chemo and the multiple surgeries, so radiation was very hard on my body, damaged my kidneys, all those things attached to it. So it started getting pretty sick 2016 and found out it was my kidneys dam. The radiation had damaged my ureters, all that kind of stuff. So we started, stents. He didn't wanna have to take the kidney, but it got to the point where stents were becoming too painful and it was just too bad.
So I had my kidney removed, my left kidney removed in 2016. And so we did another t-shirt fundraiser and it was bye-bye lefty. My mom wasn't crazy about that. And then
like we, my sister-in-law at the time, actually there's a song called Poncho and Lefty. Have you ever heard that? Like that was our favorite song.
We ran around singing Poncho and Lefty all the time. Byebye, lefty.
That's what we thought. I mean,
you know, every time we have,
you a different perspective.
I mean, whatcha gonna do.
Oh my gosh.
That is perfect. Like that is,
I mean, you can cry about it or you can say, okay,
you can cry about it, or you can laugh about it
and Okay. life.
Most of the time I choose to laugh about it and do what it's giving me to do what given me the chance to do.
Yeah. So what do you think, you've been a LPN, you faced this for a long time. What do you think the world gets wrong about how we approach illness and dying?
I think a lot of people are scared to talk about it because it's death, but at some point we are all gonna die.
Yeah.
Why avoid those conversations with your family? What if something happened to you tomorrow? Your family has no idea what you wanted? Have you even, do you know where you're gonna be buried?
Do you have plots? Do you have this stuff? Those are all things that you can either do yourself or you can write down somewhere and talk to your family about. It doesn't have to be sad. Think about it as your last party,
Oh.
your last celebration. Like how would you want that to be? We have to talk about it. I don't think that people advocate enough for themselves, and I also don't think that.
Especially like some of the older generation, don't understand a lot of the medical stuff and I feel like they need help. They don't know how to advocate for themselves and their doctors. And if you don't have doctors that you love and that you trust and you like can't ask questions 'cause a lot of people just go to the doctor, what the doctor says is it.
Mm-hmm.
A lot of times that's not it. You have to have, I preach to everybody about that.
If you are not happy with your doctors, find a new one because there are doctors out there that will become just like family no matter what. I am proof of that. So you just, you have to advocate for yourself with your family, your friends. Write it down somewhere. Yeah, there's all kinds of options and things for that.
Just research it you just, you have to, while you're here, you can still help and take care of yourself and your future and help in the planning of your future. And what happens, I was so lucky and I've been so lucky, like I haven't had to change from any of my doctors. Like when I got set up with them, like I was with them and I wouldn't want anyone else in the world. I have doctors in Memphis and I have doctors in Jonesboro, and they all love it. They're all part of it. They get t-shirts, when you go, it's how's Michael how's Katie, \ we are showing pictures of our, their kids and my kid us, it's like family updates and the people at the cancer center at NEA, those are my peeps.
Yeah.
Those are my pees. I mean, I see 'em every Thursday, like,
yeah. That's your, that's your family.
We have fun. Like in, even on the days I'm not feeling good. When I lay there, I'm laughing. Like it's, they're amazing.
it's so important, like you said, to have a strong care
Mm-hmm. Because that
can make it or break it
it, that that can, I can't imagine going through what I have gone through and still going through and not having doctors that I adore and that I know adore me. Otherwise, they wouldn't answer the phone when I text or call. Right.
Well, your story is incredibly moving and carries a message We all need to be reminded of. That purpose can rise from even the deepest pain, and you've taken that truth and created something truly meaningful through your cooking for a cure. And Team Laura programs, can you tell us how Cooking for a Cure came to be and what your role looks like now.
So, cooking for a Cure started in 2022. Bryce Hicks. Started it. He had a little dream of a barbecue competition and raising money for cancer. So it was on Main Street that year, had a good weekend and all that.
Just a small little event. Started planning, for the next year event just got bigger and bigger. And, that year, I was helping, that was in 2022. In that two years time, like we had become really good friends with Bryce, me, my husband, and Katie. We were all hanging out a lot and stuff and like we just clicked.
And that was also the time when his parents were getting sick and I clicked with them. And so that year when they were doing awards on stage, the barbecue awards, called me up on stage and did a huge donation to Team Laura for my relay team and also announced then from that moment on that the organization and the event was gonna be the Laura Fletcher Cooking for a Cure.
Wow.
Wow.
And so, then that next January, they asked me to be on the board. So I'm kind of the namesake and I'm on the board, I can't do a lot of physical stuff, but I work on sponsorships and just being there, like little PR or whatever. Um, but it's been amazing to be part of it and I will never, ever forget.
Yes. When you
mean, that's a big deal
When you got someone like Bryce, you've already got a rock star, right? Right. And he doesn't go halfway into anything. It's
No.
or nothing. It's over the top or we're not
it. When he does something and it's all in or nothing, it's gonna,
It's gonna make a point, it's gonna make a statement.
And I love that you are tied to that. Now
I am. I am. And you know, Michael and Katie love him just as much as like, I mean, he's family like, but to think that him and some people on his board thought enough of me
yes,
to name an event and an, an organization, a nonprofit organization after me, has been one of the most amazing things. I cried forever. We'd hug. He's like, we just stop crying. You're making me cry. You know? I'm like, I cried and cried and cried and just like it, it is unbelievable. It makes you feel like, well, maybe I am making a difference and maybe I do have a purpose for this. You know? 'cause sometimes I think, dang, is God just mad at me?
Or what? But it makes you realize that you have a little bit of a purpose and that you're doing something right. And you,
you've, you've made an impact for sure. And
I hope so.
I love to see all the people that are joining behind you and supporting. What makes this organization different from others you've been a part of, like Relay for Life? 'cause you've been a part of Relay For Life forever.
I've been a part of Relay for Life, probably like really involved since like 2017. Done a lot of great things, given me a lot of opportunities. But when somebody, names an organization after you, you really wanna be a part of that.
Mm-hmm. Um.
and. People all over the country raise money for the American Cancer Society
Mm-hmm.
through life, for life, through all kinds of ways. I've raised a lot of money for the American Cancer Society through the years. You see numbers of things that are local, like transportation grants or something, things like that. But when I really, got on the board of cooking and realized like the impact and everything local, and you get to see what you're doing and you are helping people in the community that need your help,
Mm-hmm.
they have cancer.
I hope to God if, I know everybody is connected by cancer, by some abuse. Somebody have somebody you've had it like cancer, it affects everything and not just you, your people too. So you know how that is for families and especially families, some families that are already struggling. So to see that we can help people like that, is quite an amazing thing. Mississippi County is a very generous county. Yes. And now that I'm getting , more Missouri Boot Heel, particularly Senath and Hornersville involvement in like to bring 'em in and be a part of this is amazing.
But just to see the local and the people, it's so fun. It's a great event, but the local impact is so much more to me now than a national impact because there are people here that need help and we have the ability to help them. Yes.
Yes. And I love that you guys focus on
Mm-hmm.
You focus on local through scholarships, through helping others through, because you can get lost in a number.
When you're
When you're a part of that program. Absolutely. You become one of
absolutely. But when
when you centralize it to Mississippi County, then you become, and it helps them feel supported mm-hmm.
By their community
And people want to give more if it's local.
Right. Right. I mean, Mississippi, I have, I have found that Mississippi County is generous no matter what, but when it comes to local and something as big as cancer, like people are so generous and they wanna be a part and they wanna be involved and they wanna do what they can to help.
you see with your own eyes the difference you're making with what you do when you help local. Mm-hmm.
And the scholarship. Thing has been such a blessing to me because Katie graduated, from BIC in 2019 and for months, you look for, 'cause she goes to Mississippi State, so you got outta state. So for months you're looking for scholarships. There's gotta be scholarships out there for kids who have had parents that, because I mean, cancer affects not only bodily, so physically, mentally, financially, but it's not just you.
It's my baby girl and my husband. So for months, I looked for scholarships for students that have parents that have had cancer and I nowhere could you find anything like that. There were plenty of scholarships like for if the student had had cancer in the past and I had never even told Bryce and any of his board members about that.
Wow. They came up with that on their own. And when they told me like, I cried, I was like, y'all don't even know. You don't even know. I looked and looked and looked. So this is something that's needed. So last year we just did one, for Mississippi County and it was a $1,500 this year. We were able to do two.
We did one for the Missouri Boot Hill, which yay. And Mississippi County. Yes. And they were each for $2,000 this year. Wow. 'Cause we ask that, they send us in a video and, they have to be affected by cancer in some way. Not just them, but, a guardian or something like that.
Someone close. But to watch those kids' stories on videos, like it just brings it home because the kids,
yeah.
they shouldn't have to be affected by any of that. But
But you're all touched. Mm-hmm. Every single part of your family. Well, you've created something deeply local, not just in name, but in heart. And it's makes a big difference and impact and a real difference. Can you talk a little bit more about you, you've touched the scholarships, but like the gift cards for local families.
You've poured so much into the community. What kind of impact have you witnessed through these acts of support?
People are so thankful.
They are thankful for the help, and they are thankful that there is an organization now right here in Mississippi County, right here in Blytheville that can help specifically cancer patients, but not just somebody with breast cancer or lung cancer. It's not focused on one cancer, it's all cancers.
It doesn't matter what the cancer is. It's for cancer patients. We've donated, to make a wish. We actually got to have a party this past, it was in April. And we got to tell the little girl, that she was getting, and that was amazing. Not a dry in the building. No. The scholarships are really, close to heart.
We donate the gas cards and gift cards to people help, and, and it's not even about them filling out an application when somebody reaches out and says, Hey, somebody needs help or anything like that. It's okay,
Mm-hmm.
all right, we can do that.
beautiful. That is so beautiful.
Those were some of their missions from the very beginning when they started the organization and it just keeps getting stronger.
Since 2022. And that's not counting this year. Like we've given $75,000 back to the community and he just started the organization in 2022.
Yeah. But that's Bryce for you, like,
Yeah.
I mean, if you know Bryce, I mean, that's just Bryce for you.
absolutely. Absolutely.
But that's huge. And I, I feel like we are the same person in a lot of ways, but when you're the person needing help, the hardest thing sometimes to do is ask for help.
'cause it's a humbling, you want to give the help, you want to be the one that helps. You don't wanna ask. So the fact that you're doing it without the long, lengthy process
all these years, in the beginning, I always had a hard time like asking for help. I'm okay, I can do this. I don't need help. But I began to learn yes, you can ask for help.
You can ask for help. And sometimes I needed help. I mean, just to get through the day, like you can ask for help, but they hardly let me do anything. Mm-hmm. I mean, don't you dare let any of 'em see me trying to lift something or anything. They're like, put that down, put that down.
I'm like, what do you, I, sometimes I really feel useless. 'Cause I can't do any of the physical work, I mean, I can go around and talk to people and all that
beauty of it though. 'cause that's what you're great at. You bring the hope and you bring the spirit and
I will tell you that like being there, at our competition this past year we had a hurricane come through, so we were rain Friday night and Saturday, but everybody made the best of it and loved it.
But like actually being involved and understanding the process because, I wasn't involved in it like that before, just kind of associated. But seeing and getting to know some of the teams and them being happy to meet you and excited that they're doing this, yes. It's a truly amazing thing.
Everybody is there for one reason. Everybody has a good time, but everybody's just so happy to be there. And so to see the process and learn so much about it. Last year, it was so eye-opening and I can't wait till September.
yeah.
And
barbecue community is just a strong community
Oh my
just the, the most fun to be around. Like, you're gonna party, there's people music playing
There's music playing in the tents. Everybody's got their coolers. Having some fun
talking each other
It's so fun because we have, we have protein category and those guys are pretty serious, but we also have the patio. But even some of your proteins, everybody has so much fun. It's just so much fun. You just, walk around and like everybody's got their music playing and like how you, what about this? Or was just an eye-opening experience and it was so much fun to see it all and be a part of the actual process of it. It was so fun.
And when you, after they judge a certain category and you get to take those yard stuff, we're all pile up on the golf cart of the Ranger and we go to that tent. And when they see you coming with that sale, I mean just like, ah,
Oh, I can't
so fun. I was like, don't y'all go take another one without me.
I'm on that.
car.
Dumped out without me. Stop at the booth and pick me up and I'm going.
I love that.
And then they let me announce the barbecue winners this year and that was so funny. It was just, it's just the little things. It really is. It's the little things, but seeing. That was an i that was really emotional. That weekend to see your name on everything, to see Laura Fletcher on all the signs, that was truly so emotional and amazing to me. How can that be me?
Yes. Well,
like it's, it's just so eye-opening and
gone from doing it for Relay for Life, for doing it for mississippi County and that is beautiful. I'll say too, your website is so impressive. I love it. It flows very well and it's just easy to navigate
that Amy is responsible for that. Amy Riston. She does all that
perfect. I can see
Yes. She is perfect for all that. She designs the banner, like the flyers and all that. Yes.
And Christina, does all of our shirts and everything. So you
a stellar
Oh, we have an amazing
you got a very solid team and having that support is what makes it continue to grow and push so much money through
good volunteers are very hard to find. Mm-hmm. We have a great group, a diverse group.
If you don't have good volunteers, your organization will not.
no.
It won't succeed. I say that when you volunteer, like you have to have a passion for what you're doing. I had that passion all those years through Relay and kinda lost it in the past year. And between that and like my doctors and my husband, you gotta cut down to one.
You can't do it anymore. And they had both been on me for that for a while. I was so led to the local thing and being part of that because you can actually, it's not numbers on paper, it's like out in the public. Like people have received things from us to help them here in Mississippi County
and then when you see 'em at the gas station or the grocery store, you can say, how are you doing? It's not like you're donating, relay for Life, I'll always support Relay for Life, right. My dad passed away from cancer, so I will always
Right.
Right? But there's something different about doing it for your community.
And
I never really even thought about that or got that until started getting involved with cooking.
And I was like, this is great. Not to dog. No a CS or relay or anything like that. But , and I've done amazing things. I've raised a ton of money for a ACS I feel like I've done what I needed to do because the local thing just became so overwhelmingly important and like I was actually able to see like how much need mm-hmm.
And how much we really could do and can do in the future. 'cause we're just continually growing. Yeah. I mean we had 40 something barbecue teams last year and we're expecting more than, and it's Memphis Barbecue Network
Laura is crazy to think
We know Bryce is like going for like 60 something this year too.
You know, like he sets the number and like, you know.
And he don't quit until he is Got it.
No, no. And we have a demolition derby that Friday night too. We've got a Laura Fletcher cooking for a Cure car. Yeah. In it, , Bryce says he's driving it, but that's not
Let's not do that. Let's, let's please not do that. So
about, so it it's a lot, and we always, have a booth at May Fest, cooking, we usually do the chili fest, all that too. So, we try to be out in the community some, and, do those kind of events too.
Even if we're not selling anything or anything, we're just promoting our event and getting the word out there, like, Hey, we're here. Yes.
Well, how do you and your team decide where the funds go? Like how do locals get ahold of you?
It's usually by a text or a phone call, from somebody. And it usually goes to, usually Bryce or Amy or Christina.
Somebody will get it and Hey, so and so's, struggling. Anything I can do kind of the story. And they feel it's appropriate, then okay here. I mean, there's no que
That's beautiful.
that they decide and like it goes to people that need it. And so people are starting to learn that we do that and reaching out more, which is great because that's part of what we do.
So you talked about your Make-A-Wish and other partnerships. Can you kind of elaborate on what that Makea Wish was and what you got to Grant?
Well we've donated, money for wishes last year to make a wish. But this year we actually got to give a party, to a little girl and all she wanted was a swim pool.
Aw. So we, did a party 'cause the fairgrounds we've kinda taken, not really taking over, but that's our home. And so the building over here, we can use and, we decorated it up. We had a little indoor pool and decorated it up luelle, kind of just bright colors and all that.
They had a lot of people show up for her and then they brought her in and got to tell her I heard a secret I heard that you wanted a swimming pool, and she's like, she was really shy at first 'cause she came in and everybody else was there. . And, getting to tell her that she was getting the swimming pool.
She like kinda looked at her mom and her mom was like real but there were so many little kids that had the best time that party. They were just carefree. The family was so appreciative. They wanted to help clean up. When it was over, we were like, no, get outta here. This is us.
But being actually able to see family and be involved with that wish that day was like, I had to hold it together, talking to her. And then as soon as I was done, I walked over by the girls and I was, I just lost. I was oh, that is one of the most amazing things that I have ever done.
Yes. Got to tell that little girl that we have helped Grant her wish.
Yes.
And the look on her face, I will never forget it. Yes. I will never, ever forget the look on her face. Yes.
And that little girl will never forget that moment
I hope not
will never regret
They were so appreciative and so nice, like it was pretty good.
Yes. So, Laura, your life is a living legacy. Let's talk about what you hope your story inspires in others. If you could leave one message with our listeners today, what would it be?
You want me to talk about Le Legacy first or am I
you feel. Talk about it all.
So legacy. I really haven't thought about that until the last few years, but my first legacy is my baby girl, Katie, because she's kind of a mini me,
not that that's a good thing all the time. But that's my legacy and I hope that through all this, I hope that I've taught her strength and to never get up. And you can see that in a lot of things that she does. So I have that legacy, but now also Laura Fletcher cooking for a Cure.
I've told Bryce, when I'm gone. You still have to, he's like, you're not going anywhere. But I always want my family to still be involved, but to know that that event is just gonna continue to grow and get bigger. Yes. And like when I eventually am not here, all those people that I've met at that event, they'll remember me and they'll know why that event is there.
And I hope that event and that organization stays together forever. Because that's now part of my legacy
Right here at home. Right here.
right here. I
I don't think enough people make that connection, that Cooking for a cure does support Relay for Life. They do support the American Cancer Society, but their number one focal
is right here
is Mississippi County.
And that's what we try to,
they do all the other things. But Mississippi
Mississippi County, we help the people. Mm-hmm. We help the people of Mississippi County.
Yep. So how do you want to be remembered, not just by your family, but by the community you've poured into?
I hope they remember that I always give the best hugs. I hope that they [00:49:00] always just remember me. I've always worked in Blytheville from the first time. When I became a nurse in 96, I've always worked in Blytheville, always lived in Leachvile since I've been married to Michael. So I have made a lot of friends and known people through the years working.
So I kind of built like. It was kind of nice that lots of people here in Blytheville, Mississippi County, that I've known some of them for years just from working, being their nurse
I want them to always remember how most of the time, I have a smile on my face and I try to keep going and I try to keep doing as much as I can. I hope they always remember my spirit and that they know that. I hope they always remember that I've always stayed true to myself and I've always been honest and open about anything with my journey, my story.
It's all out there. I just, I hope that they always remember that I did try to do something good with the bad that I have been given.
Beautiful. Very, very powerful. Very powerful. So what keeps you hopeful, even in the midst of daily challenges?
I think about the things that I know that there's a chance that I'm gonna miss, but I think one week you may think, this is it. That's it. My body's so crazy. And then the next week I can be okay for several days. I hope they'll remember my strength. I hope I've taught my Katie strength. You
Taught the whole Mississippi County strength.
I hope they remember my strength and the things that I've done. There's always something good in the bad and there can always be a good day and a bad day.
I get up every day. I do what I can. I keep going because there are things that I want to see before I die. There are things I want to happen before I die, and I hope that I am lucky enough to live long enough like that. Like I said ago, talking about things in Katie's life, there are things that Michael and I wanna do.
It's those things that keep me going because I'm not, my body may be ready to go at days, but my heart and soul are not ready to go right now. Living life right now and doing too much. And I'm not ready to go right now. Not at this very moment.
I think your sheer determination is, what has kept you alive, Laura? Like you're just determined to live on purpose. You are. I'm trying,
I'm trying. I'm doing the best I can. , I hope that people remember my determination. I just hope that maybe they remember that I was a light in their life or an inspiration at some point.
as we end, there's one question I love to ask each of the inspiring change makers who share their heart with us, can you share a moment when a small act of kindness, either something you gave or received, left a lasting impact on you?
Ooh, there's so many things.
Mm-hmm.
Well, having an organization and an event changed and named after you, first of all, is like how, I mean, like. Who thinks so much of somebody that they changed the name of the organization with your name in front. That was just amazing. That was absolutely amazing.
I mean, I've gotten to do a lot of things and then doing the Make-A-Wish, telling that little girl, that's a moment that I will never forget. And that was just, our organization gave me the gift that I got to tell her.
Yes.
To me that was just like, to see the light in her eyes and the look on her face.
yes, hope, just seeing
mm-hmm. Just excitement. Absolutely.
Because when you hear that word and you go through those treatments and you visit with your care team, and you visit with the nurse, they try to maintain a positive,
Positive.
as they're telling you. But you do start losing hope.
Mm-hmm.
And some, like you already said, you're on palliative care.
That's it.
So yeah. You,
have to maintain your hope yourself, like it has to be yours that you take possession of and say, okay,
yes,
I'm gonna be intentional about being hopeful Absolutely. About my future. I'm going to live on purpose every day. You make everyday count, even if it's inside your house.
Right. Whatever. Right. Every day has
Mm-hmm. It has to count. Like, I don't know how many more I have. Right. So, and then you also have to learn to let some of those small things go. Yes. Because there are bigger things.
Mm-hmm.
And that's been a little hard for me, even,
can imagine. I can, I I can't even fathom how you've done
you, you have to let the small things go sometimes and focus on the big, I'm still here today.
I think I'll still be here tomorrow. It's those things. And without the medical team I have, and God and my husband pushing me and telling me I can't give up yet. You can't leave me.
me. Right.
Yes.
Beautiful.
How can you not fight every day?
Right. Well, Laura, thank you so much for sharing your story with us today. It reminds us that we don't have to be free from pain to be full of purpose. So to all those who have tuned in today, I wanna challenge you this week to reflect on this. Ask yourself, how am I using this one precious life that I was gifted with to shine light into someone else's darkest moments?
I challenge you to write it down, to say it out loud, and to share it with someone you trust. So here on Unmasking the Heart for Change, we believe that every guest who shares their truth with us leaves a lasting imprint, not just on this platform, but on every soul who listens. So as a token of our gratitude, we want to give you a little piece of our hearts, something to remind you that your story matters and that your impact is real.
So I have created for you
oh my gosh.
A cutting board with your logo on it. Oh my
my gosh. That's gorgeous.
So that you can Don't make me cry.
I gonna cry. Oh my gosh.
Oh my gosh. You
remember that you shared your story with
This is amazing. When we're done, I'm hugging you again.
Thanks. I, oh my gosh.
Thank you so much for leading with such heart and for reminding us of the power that comes when we choose to show up with love, compassion, and purpose. And I've already said this, but I really want to make it public on a platform.
This is a start of a conversation that I hope you utilize. You can just. Go ahead and take that. Unmasking is a platform for Laura Fletcher. Anything that you have going on, if it's a 15 minute talk, if it's a story of hope that you wanna share, please reach out.
Oh my gosh,
is a forever platform that is yours to have a microphone, we've already talked about you're coming back in August.
You've already, promised that it's on record.
you want me to. Anytime.
to push your story out and just capture your memories, your stories, so that Legacy can live on for hope forever.
So to our listeners, if this story moved you, and I know it did. I want to encourage you to connect with Laura Fletcher and the Cooking for the Cure team. They're a powerful local give back program based right here in Mississippi County.
Their work is truly local and truly life changing. You can find the link in our show notes or visit cooking for a cure.org. And if you know someone currently fighting cancer who could use a bit of light and love, please share this episode with them. Let's be the village that shows up for one another.
And if you don't hear anything else, I say, please hear this. Please look up Team Laura and cooking for a Cure and follow them on Facebook. These are two community rooted organizations doing real work for those in Mississippi County and the Boot Heel who are battling cancer. Their impact is right here, local, and right now, don't let support local be just a phrase that you say, let it be something you truly live and do.
Finally, do you or someone you know have a powerful story of change to share? I'd love to hear from you. You can apply to be a guest by visiting our Facebook page or clicking the guest link in the show notes. Your journey might be exactly what someone else needs to hear in the season.
If you found value in today's episode, please subscribe. Share it with a friend and leave a review. It helps more hearts find this space. And remember, change begins within and it starts one heart to heart at a time. See you next time, friends. Thanks so much for listening.
Bye.
