Alisa invited anyone that had been touched by the Stone family to please write in and share their story. This came from the Stone's niece and it is so well written and heartfelt. Thank you Kalynn for sharing this with all of us!
My name is Kalynn Hamm and I’m Tracey and Ricky’s niece. I just read your recent entry about writing to you and I immediately had to let you know just how much my aunt and uncle mean to me. Please bear with me for words can not even begin to tell you how much I love and care for them. I hope through this you can just gain a glimpse of how I feel.
For starters, I’d like to thank you personally Alisa for helping my family. I feel as though you are also a part of our family in regards to everything you’ve done for them. You really are an incredible person for taking the initiative and caring so much to help put this auction together for them. I know I speak for all of us when I say that we can’t thank you enough.
In regards to my aunt and uncle, I really don’t know where to begin. They’ve always played a major role in my life, ever since I was very little. Ricky has always been family to us, even before they were married. I can still remember going over to my grandma’s and peeking around the corner as we pulled onto her street hoping I’d see Ricky’s red truck in the driveway. I remember him calling me while he was away playing ball just to say hi. Even if, due to my extreme shyness, all I had to say was “are you having fun?” Ricky’s just a lways been here. He’s always been my uncle. I couldn’t imagine our family any other way.
Those of you who are very familiar with Ricky know how much of a jokester he is. That, I’d have to say, is something I really love about him. He’s always joking around and can make anyone laugh. People are naturally drawn to him because of his personality and humor. He’ll talk to anyone about anything. Another aspect of Ricky’s personality I admire is his generosity. Ricky is naturally a helper. If you need something, he’ll set everything aside and be there to take care of it. He’d give you the shirt off his back if you told him that’s what you needed, no questions asked. Just the other day I was over at their house and as I looked out the window I saw him over at the neighbors digging a whole in their yard to help them plant a tree. Now that’s what I call a helper. Those are only a few reasons as to why I really look up to my uncle. He’s one in a million.
Although his diagnosis in August was quite a blow, I’d have to say it really has shown me even further how strong Tracey and Ricky are. Coming from someone who has seen this situation unravel first hand, it hasn’t always been pretty. As you know by reading Tracey’s blog there are some tough days. Yet, as you also know, they’re still here. They’re still fighting this with everything they have. They don’ t let a few bad days stop them. They don’t give up. They remain positive and look forward to the next day and all the great things it could bring. For a family who has received what could be such detrimental news to others, they stay so positive it’s absolutely inspiring. The courage they both have shown is beyond what I could describe to you. They are the most amazing people.
In school I would often have people comment on how great it must be to be related to a Major League Baseball player. Well, yes, of course it’s a great thing. Yet, what many fail to recognize is that I’m not just proud of him for what he’s accomplished in baseball, but for the kind of person he is and what he stands for. He’s not just a pitcher, Ricky Stone is my uncle. And not just any uncle, he’s the best.
So what does the Stone family mean to me? Everything. To put it very simply, they mean everything. My aunt and uncle and my beautiful little cousins mean the world to me. I love each of them with all my heart and I’m so proud to have them as a part of my family.
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