WilsonTimes.com - 'It meant everything to Tracy'

Friday, December 09, 2011 11:01 PM

'It meant everything to Tracy'
NASCAR community, others mourn Wilson woman

By Lisa Boykin Batts | Times Life Editor

Among the poinsettias, peace lilies and bouquets of carnations, roses and mums sent to Tracy Thompson’s family last week, one arrangement stood out in particular: a basket of pink and white flowers sent by the Jeff Gordon family.

Tracy, 36, was a devoted NASCAR fan, and Gordon was her favorite driver. Tracy’s devotion led her to a friendship with the Gordons — in particular Gordon’s mother and wife.

Tracy was no stranger to Jeff Gordon’s fan base, his team or the fan website gordononline and spent much of her day — often housebound because of illness — chatting on Facebook or Twitter with other NASCAR fans.

Her death on Nov. 29 has not gone unnoticed by racing fans. In addition to a flood of online memorials, gordononline held a Tracy Thompson Memorial Raffle to raise money for the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation, one of Tracy’s favorite charities.

“Tracy loved chatting with other fans on Twitter and Facebook,” the foundation site reads. “If you were friends with Tracy, you know how she adored Jeff, his wife, Ingrid, and their kids.”

Larry Graff, gordononline founder, was one of Tracy’s online friends.

“Tracy was such a huge fan, and the fundraising drive this week ensures that she can make a difference even after her passing,” he said.

Libby Thompson has been overwhelmed with the outpouring of sympathy from across the country.

“I can’t get over how many people loved my daughter,” she said. “It’s just helping me go.”

Tracy’s story

The Christmas tree is dark in the house Tracy shared with her mother. Libby said she hasn’t turned it back on since Tracy’s death. At the base of the tree is an unwrapped gift as well as Tracy’s shoes.

Libby doesn’t want the tree lights turned back on this year. Christmas won’t be the same without her daughter and constant companion. “We were joined at the hip,” Libby said.

From the time Tracy was born — two months premature — until her death last week, Libby looked after her daughter. Tracy had an undiagnosed muscle condition and didn’t walk until she was 3. But her mother said she overcame those problems, graduated from Hunt High School, attended Wilson Community College and held a job at Domino’s for 10 years before she got sick.

About 11 years ago, Tracy was diagnosed with lymphedema. The disease, caused by a blockage in the lymphatic system, leads to extreme swelling in the arms or legs because fluid can’t drain. For Tracy, it was her left leg that grew large from fluid. Libby said that over the years, Tracy’s leg kept getting bigger and at one point weighed around 75 pounds.

Tracy went to doctors and tried a variety of medicines and therapies, but she got little relief, and walking became very difficult. She would hold onto Libby to get from room to room in their home.

Strangers would often stare at Tracy’s leg, but Libby said her daughter wasn’t rude back to them.

“She would just look at them and smile and say, ‘Hey.’”

When they had to leave the house, Tracy and Libby would rely on the kindness of others to help them out.

If they were going out to eat, Tracy would pick up her cell phone and fast dial one of their favorite restaurants. Often, that restaurant was Chili’s.

Chili’s general manager Kevin Parker said his staff all knew the Thompsons would reserve the same table, close to the door, for the mother and daughter team. They all loved chatting with Tracy. Sometimes, Tracy would be on her way back from a doctor’s appointment and she’d tell her waitress how she was doing, Parker said. Other times, she might talk to them about an upcoming NASCAR race.

“It was always a pleasure to have them here,” Parker said. “We considered Tracy a ‘Chilihead,’ which is what we call ourselves.”

On the day of Tracy’s funeral, manager Peaches Evans framed Tracy’s obituary and set it on the Thompsons’ favorite table beside a grouping of lighted candles. They kept it there all day, Parker said.

“It was the right thing for us to do out of respect,” he said. “I love repeat customers for the sales, but she was part of our family and part of the team and more than just sales figures.”

Last words

Tracy got sick in May, and her mother said she had a hard time recovering. She had head congestion and bronchitis. In the fall she had a series of mini strokes and just before her death a sinus infection. She also didn’t have much of an appetite and was weak.

Libby was very worried. At night, she’d often go to her bedroom and leave Tracy in her electric recliner, legs propped, chatting away with her online friends. In the privacy of her bedroom, Libby cried. She was afraid Tracy was going to lose her leg to lymphedema.

“I couldn’t cry around Tracy,” she said.

But she’d stop crying before Tracy would call her up each night, usually around midnight — ready for help to get in bed.

On Nov. 28, Libby went to her own bedroom before Tracy was ready for bed. She was startled when she woke up around 2 a.m. and realized Tracy was still in her recliner. She hurried to the den and tried to wake Tracy.

“Come on doll baby. You’ve got to wake up; we’ve got to go to bed,” she told her daughter.

“I’m alright,” Tracy told her.

Libby got a blanket and wrapped her up, then slept on the couch next to her. Around daybreak Libby realized something was very wrong; Tracy wasn’t breathing. She called her neighbors Kathy and Gary Hayes for help as well as 911. Emergency workers tried to resuscitate Tracy at home and later at the hospital.

“I couldn’t bring her back,” Libby said. “I tried.”

‘A huge fan’

Tracy always liked racing. Libby said she grew up watching races with her dad, Chris, when she was little and her interest grew. She watched every minute of coverage from pre-race shows to the race itself.

“It meant everything to Tracy,” Libby said.

Libby took Tracy to races when she could, and in September 2008, they got to meet Gordon in Richmond, Va.

Tracy and her online friends would chat about Gordon and racing, and her friends’ list on Facebook grew to more than 2,000.

As soon as word of her death spread, those Facebook friends started writing:

“RIP Tracy! I will miss chatting with ya! Watch over that No. 24 for me. Prayers to your family.”

From the United Kingdom: “She has touched the hearts of so many people and by that alone, she will live in our memories. May she rest in peace.”

And there’s this one from Jeff Gordon’s own Facebook wall: “Sorry to hear of the passing of Tracy Thompson. She was a huge fan and always showed her support for me and Ingrid. She will be missed — JG.” More than 1,200 “liked” his status and 188 commented including this friend: “Tracy found me on Facebook because I was a Jeff Gordon fan ... even though I don’t know her personally, we became friends on Facebook and I feel like I have lost a great friend.”

When racing season starts up in February, Libby said she’ll carry on her daughter’s ritual of watching the races.

“How can I not?” she said.

lisa@wilsontimes.com | 265-7810