Some stories don’t begin with success: they begin with survival. Stacy’s journey is one of those stories. What was meant to break her became the foundation for her purpose, her faith, and her calling. From life-altering diagnoses to miraculous healing, her story reminds us that resilience is not accidental, it is built through endurance, obedience, and hope.

Before we explore her work, her advocacy, and the mission behind Yield, Heal & Thrive, we pause to honor the journey that shaped her. Below, Stacy shares her story in her own words—offering insight, encouragement, and proof that even in our weakest moments, purpose can still rise.She has survived everything that was meant to destroy her and turned it into purpose. Stacy is a blood cancer survivor, having battled chronic myeloid leukemia, and is also a kidney transplant recipient. In August 2025, she received a life-saving kidney transplant from an altruistic donor. This extraordinary act of selflessness inspired Stacy to share her journey through authorship, documenting her experience to encourage, educate, and inspire others. Remarkably, she lived with Stage 5 kidney disease for more than eight years without falling ill or undergoing dialysis.

Since 2005, Stacy has built a successful real estate brokerage, J Hunter Realty, where she provides educational classes and guidance for buyers, sellers, and investors. She is now the founder of Yield, Heal & Thrive, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation dedicated to supporting kidney donors and recipients through hardship while increasing public awareness of kidney disease and the importance of organ donation. Yield, Heal & Thrive is a testimony of God’s grace through one of life’s greatest battles. From the shock of diagnosis, to the refusal of dialysis, to the miracle of a kidney transplant and the long road of recovery. The upcoming book also features expert insights from Dr. Vasanthi Balaraman, nephrologist and Medical Director of Living Donor Kidney Transplant at Methodist Institute. The memoir is for anyone facing kidney disease, awaiting a transplant, walking alongside a loved one in the process-or anyone searching for proof that God’s strength shines brightest in our weakest moments. Whether you are battling health challenges or simply in need of encouragement, Yield, Heal & Thrive will remind you that healing is possible, hope is real and how faith sustained every setback and fueled every victory.

You’ve survived blood cancer, lived with Stage 5 kidney disease for years, and received a life-saving kidney transplant. How did you find the strength to keep going through each chapter of your health journey?

I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. No weapon formed against me shall prosper.    I definitely could not have done this on my own.  I meditated on the word of God daily.  I had to renew my mind by staying focused on God’s word and what I could learn from this season.  I don’t believe anything happens by chance.  God allows some storms for the perfecting of our faith.  

Living more than eight years with Stage 5 kidney disease without dialysis is remarkable. What did that season teach you about listening to your body, faith, and resilience?

I learned to wait on God. Because I had been misled by doctors before, I wasn’t willing to make such a big decision without confirmation from Him. I was prepared to accept the consequences. Journaling became one of the most important ways I learned to listen to my body. I wrote down my physical activity, what I ate, and how I felt, which helped me identify the foods and activities that didn’t agree with me.

Your kidney transplant came from an altruistic donor. How did that act of selflessness change your perspective on life, purpose, and service?

It changed my entire outlook on life. I’ve received many beautiful gifts, but nothing compares to the gift of a new kidney. It was the most selfless act anyone could make. Witnessing how her obedience to God directly impacted my life moved me to ask God for forgiveness for the times I was disobedient, realizing that my actions may have affected others in ways I couldn’t see.  

What inspired you to document your journey through authorship, and what do you hope readers feel or understand after reading Yield, Heal & Thrive? Honestly, journaling started as a way for me to share my feelings.  I keep a lot of things in, so it was a way for me to process my thoughts… my letter to the Lord.  Then I began to document my journey so that I could get to the bottom of the changes that were going on in my body.  I did not know that authorship would be the next calling until I was on the transplant table.  I initially wanted to keep the process to my self but the Holy Spirt convicted me.  How would God get the glory if I did not share my story?  I asked for forgiveness, and Yield, Heal, and Thrive was born on the transplant table.  I hope readers will take responsibility for their own health after reading my book.  We can’t let our health be in the doctor’s hands.  We have to research, ask questions, and take responsibility for our own body.  I pray that they will yield to God.  Surrender yourself to His will.  You didn’t make yourself, and you can’t fix yourself.  We must lean on the ONE who formed us when we were in our mother’s womb. Once they yield to God,I pray readers will start their own healing process, mentally, physically, and spiritually.  Once you start that process, then you can truly thrive in your purpose!  No work, no thrive!

Faith is a central thread throughout your story. How did your relationship with God sustain you during moments of uncertainty, fear, and recovery?

My relationship with God sets the tone of every other relationship in my life.  My faith sustained me in so many ways.  First, it constantly reminded me that I can do all things through Christ whom strengthen me.  Then it reminded me that God did not give me the spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind.  Just about every page of my book is filled with a scripture or quote, or a meditation song.  I stayed in the word and when I needed it most, the word dwelled in me.  

You’ve built a successful real estate brokerage while navigating serious health challenges. How did entrepreneurship and purpose intersect during your healing journey?

I didn’t know what the future holds, but I know who holds my future.  I have been working since I was 9 years old.  It is 2nd nature.  I didn’t have time for a pity party.  There were things I still wanted to do, even if I was on my way out.  I still wanted to travel, and I still love selling real estate.  I believe when you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life.  I just kept doing what I love.  

Yield, Heal & Thrive was born out of personal experience. What gaps did you see in the transplant and kidney disease journey that compelled you to create this nonprofit?

There are so many gaps that I need to write a separate book on that.  But to keep it short, I see how this disease affects the underserved communities.  It is heartbreaking that about 20% of our population has a gene that is predestined for kidney failure- yet, I learned about that this year.  This is a very expensive journey.  Some people have had to file bankruptcy and pick and choose whether they will eat or get meds because they have depleted their funds from being sick for so long.  I ran into people who didn’t have family or funds for transportation, so they missed critical doctor visits.  I ran into people who were on the brink of a breakdown because this disease has destroyed their spiritual, mental, and physical well-being.  I also ran into people, like myself, who were not recognizing the kidney failure or the seriousness of it, even while going to the doctor for annual checkups.  The system failed them.  I want to fill this gap by providing hardship resources, spiritual guidance, mentors who know firsthand what they are going through, as well as seminars on kidney disease and prevention.  

Communities of color are disproportionately affected by kidney disease. Why is it critical to raise awareness and advocate for prevention, education, and organ donation within these communities? I know to check my breasts every month, and I know to get a mammogram every year. Breast cancer organizations have done an amazing job spreading awareness and educating the public. I want that same awareness for kidney disease. I didn’t truly understand kidney disease until it affected me. Even though African Americans make up just 12% of the population, we represent over 33% of kidney disease cases and are three times more likely to progress from early stages to End Stage Renal Disease. Our diet and lifestyle matter more than many of us realize. We need education—what signs to watch for, what foods to limit, and what our bodies need more of. It breaks my heart when people follow medical advice, see their doctors regularly, and still learn too late that dialysis is their only option, without being given tools like a diet or a prevention plan.

Your nonprofit offers hardship resources, care packages, and spiritual and emotional support. Why was it important for you to address the whole person, not just the medical need?

Kidney disease affects your mental, physical, and spiritually.  I know firsthand how it’s hard to heal, when you are worried about money, or when you have not been taught about  prayer or even know God.  As I follow Jesus example, he met people where they were.  He fed them when they were hungry.  He fulfilled their needs.  Then once he fulfilled their needs, He introduced them to the kingdom of heaven.  That is the ultimate mission.  

You’ve emphasized that Yield, Heal & Thrive is rooted in Christian faith while serving people of all backgrounds. How do you balance faith-based mission with inclusive service?  

We were made in His image.  I  am not the judge nor jury- my goal is to help.  Paul was walking on Damascus rd, on the way to persecute Christians, when He received his call to follow Christ.  I pray people will come to my organization and feel the love and warmth we provide, and then ask, what must they do to be saved.  

What has recovery taught you about patience, rest, and redefining strength after surviving so much?

This journey has taught me to trust and obey God. If God rested on the Sabbath, then I must rest as well. I became so busy with life that prayer turned into an option instead of a necessity. Once I made God the head of my life, He reframed my understanding of patience and rest. I have learned to wait on God.

For someone currently battling kidney disease, awaiting a transplant, or supporting a loved one, what message do you most want them to hear right now?  I want them to yield to God, actively work on healing mind, body, and soul.  That means exercising, eating right, and doing what you can in your power to live a normal, healthy life.  Only then can you thrive in your purpose.  God is good, and His mercy is everlasting.  Christ came so that we may have life and have it more abundantly.  Faith without works is dead.  We must actively do the work, discipline ourselves, trust, and obey God.

Looking ahead, what legacy do you hope Yield, Heal & Thrive and your book will leave for future patients, donors, and families?

I pray that my book becomes a guide for others who are going through something right now. I don’t just tell my story—I share the real actions I took that helped me along the way. I offer raw and unfiltered, firsthand experiences of what I did right, what I did wrong, and everything in between. My hope is that this foundation becomes a legacy that changes lives for the better and introduces—or strengthens—a relationship with a man I know named Jesus.

Social media handles:

Facebook:  Stacy Hobson

IG, Tik Tok & Youtube:  @StacyhobsonUnfiltered

Website: www.stacyhobsonauthor.com