A Firefighter Fighting for Her Life: Supporting Sandy City and Stacie Jorgensen

Of the many calls they shared, Corey Metcalf remembers one above all because it exemplified the humanity and professionalism that Stacie Jorgensen always brought to the job.

A young woman had lost consciousness. On the surface, it seemed like a routine medical call. But as the Sandy City firefighter-paramedics began assessing the patient, Stacie noticed things that didn’t add up.

The woman was partially dressed. 

The others in the home behaved suspiciously. 

The situation left them with a sinking feeling that something more serious might be happening.

Later, they came to believe the patient may have been a victim of human trafficking.

There wasn’t much they could do in the moment. But for Stacie, the call didn’t end when the ambulance left.

She returned to the station and began researching resources, tracking down the right contacts, and making sure the appropriate authorities were notified. She wanted to do everything possible to help a woman she had met only briefly.

For Metcalf, new on the job that day, it was a perfect example of who Stacie is. And it was a lesson he’s carried with him since.

“She’s just 100% for the patient,” he said. “She goes above and beyond to do the right thing, even if it might not be the easiest.”

That commitment to helping others has defined Stacie’s career for nearly two decades. As a firefighter, paramedic, critical care flight medic and a mentor, she earned a reputation for treating every patient with compassion and refusing to take shortcuts when someone’s well-being was at stake.

Today, Stacie is staring down a challenge of her own.

Diagnosed last year with a rare and aggressive form of leukemia, she has spent months undergoing chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant, and a difficult recovery process. Through it all, her husband, Jeff, their two daughters, and her Sandy City Fire Department family have remained by her side.

This month, we’re proud to support Stacie and the Sandy City Fire Department through the Fire Department Coffee Club and Fire Department Shirt Club.

Through the Coffee Club, $2 from every bag purchased or subscription supports Stacie, her family, and her fellow firefighters. Through the Shirt Club, $5 from every shirt purchased does the same.

Always Above and Beyond

Located just south of Salt Lake City, Sandy City Fire Department serves a growing community along Utah’s Wasatch Front. The five-station department responds to approximately 10,000 calls each year and maintains specialized capabilities ranging from wildland firefighting and hazmat response to technical rescue and heavy extrication.

Stacie has been a mainstay in the department since 2009, first serving as a volunteer before joining the department full-time. Over the years, she became known not only for her medical skills but also for her people skills.

“She takes her job very seriously,” said fire engineer Corey Carter, who spent years working alongside her on the ambulance. “When it comes to medical, she was always trying to go above and beyond.”

That drive eventually led Stacie to become a critical care flight paramedic with Life Flight. But her colleagues say what truly sets her apart is her ability to connect with everyone she encounters — whether they are patients or her fellow first responders.

Carter recalled that Stacie was often paired with paramedic students because of her ability to teach. She challenged people, encouraged them, and built their confidence without ever making them feel overwhelmed. Whether mentoring a young paramedic or caring for a patient during a difficult moment, she approached the job with patience and empathy.

When patients were agitated, frightened, or in the throes of a mental health crisis, Stacie had a unique ability to slow things down, make people feel heard, and earn their trust.

Rather than rushing into an assessment, she took the time to understand what people were experiencing.

“Sometimes she would take a long time on calls,” Carter said. “But at the end of the day, that’s the person who needs it the most. That’s one thing I learned from her — take your time to make sure everything’s right.”

A Battle No Firefighter Expects

In late 2025, Stacie noticed unusual purple spots appearing on her forehead. What seemed like a minor concern ultimately led to a diagnosis of myeloid sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of leukemia.

“We say that vanity saved my life, because once those purple things started showing up on my forehead, I said, ‘Well, that’s it. That’s not gonna happen,’” Stacie told the Sandy Journal. “[The dermatologist] chose to do a skin biopsy because I’d had the rash for about five months. My labs came back fine. It was the skin biopsy that found the leukemia.”

The diagnosis hit her colleagues hard.

“You hear about it all the time,” Metcalf said of firefighter cancer. “But you kind of feel like you’re on an island with your own department. So it was definitely a state of shock.”

Cancer has become one of the most significant health threats facing today’s firefighters, with growing attention focused on the long-term effects of repeated exposure to carcinogens encountered on emergency scenes. In Utah, recent legislation created a statewide firefighter cancer screening initiative designed to help identify cancers earlier and provide additional support to firefighters facing a diagnosis. 

According to Carter, Stacie’s battle has brought even greater attention to those efforts within the profession.

Her own journey has been anything but easy.

After beginning treatment, Stacie faced additional setbacks that required more chemotherapy and forced portions of the transplant process to begin again. During that time, she made the difficult decision to medically retire from the Sandy City Fire Department after nearly two decades of service.

The challenges extended beyond the hospital.

Her husband, Jeff, also a Sandy City firefighter, has balanced work, family responsibilities, and countless hours supporting Stacie throughout her treatment. Together, they have continued caring for their two daughters while navigating the emotional and financial realities that come with a life-changing diagnosis.

Through it all, their fire department family has remained close.

Department members organized donations, delivered meals, assembled care packages, visited the hospital, and looked for ways to support the family however they could. Friends found opportunities to help Jeff step away from the stress of treatment for a few hours at a time, while firefighters throughout the department continued checking in and lifting their spirits.

Recently, the family received encouraging news when Stacie’s transplant began showing signs of successful grafting, an important milestone indicating that her new immune system was beginning to develop. While recovery remains a long process, it marked a hopeful step forward.

Fight Together. Battle As One.

The spirit of Sandy City and Stacie’s inspiring journey are reflected throughout this month’s Fire Department Shirt Club design. The artwork features a female mammoth inspired by Utah hockey, a helicopter representing Stacie’s work as a flight paramedic, and subtle magical references that celebrate a passion shared by her family. At the center is a message that perfectly captures the support surrounding her today:

“Fight Together. Battle As One.”

We hope you’ll think of Stacie and send positive thoughts her way each time you wear the shirt or sip from the July Fire Department Coffee Club roast. Crafted with premium coffee beans from Uganda and Colombia, the roast delivers notes of milk chocolate, cherry, and orange zest. 

For Stacie, the road ahead will continue to require strength, patience, and perseverance. 

But thanks to the support of her family, her fellow firefighters and the Fire Department Coffee community, she won’t have to travel that road alone.