What would you do if you found out your father was diagnosed with late-stage liver cancer,  and you needed to raise the money to head out to California and support him in his dying days?

New Port Richey resident Sherry Stamback took to Facebook.

“I have so many clients that reposted my note,” said Stamback. “Some folks can only offer a prayer or repost a note. It’s a wonderful thing to feel an outpouring of love.”

Stamback, a local artist and “eclectic pagan priestess,” posted a note on her business’ page that said “I need your help, so it’s a great time to seek mine.”  The note offers discounted rates on tarot card readings and birth chart analysis. Her company is called “Spellbinding Intuitive Services.”

Stamback’s services also include “dead deliveries,” communications between the living and dead, henna readings and the sale of her artwork. Her path to the esoteric began when she was a tattoo artist, reading her client’s tattoos, she said.

Her usual pro-rated hour is $80, but she has dropped it to $60 for the sake of raising money quickly to cover her transportation to and living expenses in California.

Stamback's father was diagnosed with liver cancer and told her he does not want to seek treatment. He just wants to live out his final days comfortably. She wants to help him do that.

Her Facebook friends responded quickly. Dozens of them requested readings and put down deposits for readings in the future. Others offered smaller donations and their prayers, then reposted the note on their own pages to spread the word.

 “People responded to the note pretty quickly,” Stamback said. “I’m halfway to my goal now, and I want to be with [my father and stepmother] for three days or a couple months. I’ll do whatever is needed of me.”

New Port Richey resident Deanna Peterson has been getting tarot readings from Stamback for more than a year. She said Stamback’s readings have helped her through difficult times in her life, so she offered up her services as an artist to Stamback's cause.

“I was short on cash so I offered Sherry some of my stained glass art for sale,” Peterson said. “It was a way to give back since I didn’t have any money. With the economy the way it is and two kids at home, money is tight. But I saw that note and thought ‘I have to do something.”

Peterson agreed with Stamback’s decision to seek help on Facebook. She said Stamback is reaping what she has sewn. Her willingness to help others has attracted that same help back to her.

“Sherry helps the community a lot more than with just her services,” Peterson said. “I did a fundraiser for Gulf High School, and she was the first one to say ‘I will help.’ That’s what builds a strong community- when people are willing to help each other out.”

Stamback is grateful for her friends' and clients' help and content with her father’s decision not to seek treatment.

“Why prolong what’s going to happen to all of us?” Stamback said. “This is a natural consequence of living. We all die. His path is that he’s ready to check out, and I want to be there to hold his hand.”