Help Us Heal Maryann's Cancer

My mother Maryann has recently been diagnosed with cancer. She is planning to start treatment immediately and your love and support are essential for her to continue a long and happy life. Your financial support will be used for medical bills and life expenses while she is undergoing treatment. I’ve always imagined my children (one is due next month!) would grow up with their Grandma Mema and experience the love I grew up with – we cannot thank you enough for any support you can provide.


She writes:
 
I received my cancer diagnosis this fall during a lovely hiatus in my working life. My plans to travel to Kenya to help establish a new Montessori school there had been postponed unexpectedly, so I was enjoying time with family and friends in Oregon and Atlanta. A routine health check-up with my doctor led to the discovery of a mass in my abdomen.

You can imagine my overwhelming surprise to hear the news:  Stage 4c ovarian cancer. Me? The tumor was huge (but not as big as a watermelon) and it had metastasized.

Friends rallied around, shared ideas, helped out immensely. As shocking as the news was, it was a joyous time. I began to notice more and more all the wonder and fun in my life and my gratitude grew. We are all fortunate—no matter our concerns.

I immediately began simple changes to my lifestyle—organic, vegan raw diet; classic homeopathic treatment; UV therapy; acupuncture and Chinese treatments. With advice from the oncologist in Atlanta, I planned a move to Oregon to be with my sister Laura, my son Shams, his wife Michelle, my darling grandson Otis, and my Meher Baba family there, where I would ferret through the data I was collecting. With much help from Atlanta friends and Shams, I made the move.

Now I am here in Portland, surrounded by love, help, ideas and another wonderful oncologist from OHSU (Oregon Health & Science University) Hospital. She thinks I should start conventional chemo asap; I want to do alternative treatment/support as much as possible. Whatever I do, it must start quite soon, while I am still a vibrant healthy folk. Night and day I am doing my personal practice,  reading, having tests, talking to doctors from different clinics around the world, collecting data... and having fun. My first PET scan was last week. Soon I see the oncologist and make the decisions to give me the fulfilling life I will continue after this interloper has left my body.

I am eager to join the Montessori project in Nairobi, Kenya. Invited by an Atlanta Montessori parent from Nairobi to help establish the new school, I can use my years of experience to help guide the project--many wonderful teachers with happy children I met there think it will be inspiring to have "Montessori the way she wrote about it" to see in action. As well I can use my experience and new training to bring Montessori awareness to the retirement community in my own town, Gold Beach, in between grandchild trips to Portland where I plan to work with some Montessori schools.

So, I look enthusiastically forward - to many more years with friends and family (especially grandchildren!), to enjoying the gorgeous natural environment of the West Coast, to working in Montessori education in Nairobi and Portland and to beginning my new work with Montessori --always supported and embraced in this Love which powers the universe.

-Maryann
 
However my mom decides to attack this beast (she doesn't look at it that way...), there will undoubtedly be unforeseen costs. Anything you can donate is greatly appreciated in helping provide assistance in covering the expenses that insurance won’t and will allow my mom holistic, adjunct options that are not financially available to her currently. Our present goal is $15,000 and every little bit helps. We will continue to keep you updated on Maryann’s journey!

Thank you for your time and support,
Shams Barnhart