Support Maria's Fight Against Lymphoma

Hi, my name is Ashley and my very dear friend Maria, who I consider family, was recently diagnosed with Lymphoma. Today, I am asking you to read her story below and help me support her and her family during this challenging time. Whether it’s making a money donation, signing up to provide a meal (https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/yr129m), or offering in any other way, anything helps!

Now, Maria is one of the kindest, most caring people I have ever met (and she is even from New York ). She truly would do almost anything for probably almost anyone—she has such a large heart. She is married to her husband Dave, and they have 5 kids between the two of them.

I met Maria while I was taking care of her mother when I was a CNA. I was largely pregnant, and she had asked me if I had thought about doing a maternity photo shoot. She was looking to start her photography business and offered to take our photos. She has a love for her photography and grew her business on offering a service to those who may not have the means to do so—and she didn’t mind because, again, that is the kind of person she is.

Maria is always offering herself to others in so many ways. She has a second and third income (her 8-5 job is working at Spectrum, which she has been off of since the beginning of November), but also works as a nanny at night for a family that has two little boys.

Between working her 3 jobs, she also recently started school, working on a degree in web design and certification in photography. She has been able to manage keeping her grades up (even making the dean's list) despite her busy life and now diagnosis that has made it hard to maintain energy and daily life.

As stated above, she has been off work, all three jobs, since the beginning of November, but of course, the bills still have to be paid. Maria’s husband also has had to take FMLA periodically for both Maria’s appointments and also sick days for medical issues of his own.

Maria is handling the news of this well as she is staying positive and continuing to maintain her humorous personality. However, I know she is anxious about the unknown and mostly how her family is going to financially handle the time she has taken off of work and the extra medical bills that will come with treatments, etc. I need to preface to say also that she had a hard time even letting me create this for her as she is not one to ask for this kind of help.

Thank you for reading Maria’s story, and I hope you find it in your heart to help us support Maria and her family.