Mary’s Battle Against Metastatic Breast Cancer

Hi all,

Anyone who knows or has even briefly met my mother, Mary Martin, knows how special of a person she is. Her bright, cheerful personality and ability to see the good in every situation are truly astonishing- especially given the state of her health.

Mary was first diagnosed with breast cancer back in 2006. As a newly single mom of a then 9-year-old, things were uncertain and scary. She continued to persevere, and thanks to the brilliant doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering, through a double mastectomy, rounds of radiation and chemotherapy, she was eventually deemed cancer free. She continued medication for 5 years to help keep her in remission and was eventually cleared to stop treatment.

In 2020, she noticed a lump under her arm and after a biopsy, learned that her cancer had returned. Even worse, it had also metastasized to her bones in her spine and pelvis. For the past 4 years, I have watched my mother courageously battle against this disease- always with a smile on her face and the attitude that “other people have it worse.”

In recent months, her health has continued to decline. Amongst this medical chaos, she lost her job and the health insurance coverage that helped to keep medical costs down. She now has to pay out of pocket for her insurance, plus has higher co-pays for medications, doctor appointments, surgery and treatments.

She most recently underwent a 7-hour spinal surgery on 2/6 to remove cancerous cells so that the area could be radiated on again. Her mobility has declined due to the surgery and she requires assistance for almost all daily activities. Her doctors and team recommend long term assistance through visiting nurses or assisted living, but of course this comes with a high price tag and sadly, we cannot afford the help she so desperately needs.

Any donations received would go towards costs for this medical assistance, medication copays, transportation to and from appointments when friends/family are unavailable, food to stay healthy during treatment, and any costs associated with her battle. If you prefer to donate directly to my mom, please reach out to me.

Please know that your support is so greatly appreciated by both my mom and I. We are so lucky to have the support of our wonderful friends and family. Thanks for your consideration!