Stacie, originally from Texas and raised in Lake Charles, Louisiana, embarked on a transformative journey after her second child, Addison, was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. With a background in nursing studies at McNeese State University, she paused her academic pursuits to navigate Addison's three open-heart surgeries and various procedures before the age of four. Inspired by this experience, Stacie redirected her path, returning to McNeese in 2020 to pursue a bachelor's degree in psychology.  ​In 2019, she reached out to the Local Heart Foundation to volunteer but instead and gratefully, her family received assistance with lodging and meals for Addison's third open-heart surgery while in Houston, Texas. Little did she know that this act of compassion would lead her to become the Local Heart Foundation Executive Director in October 2022. Stacie approaches her role with humility and honor, drawing from personal experience to extend invaluable support to families navigating the complexities of heart disease in the local community. Managing day-to-day operations at LHF's office, she strives to lighten the load for families on this challenging journey, making a difference one heartfelt connection at a time.