Hey Everyone, and welcome to Graceful Mary! I’m Mary Beth, a devoted wife, proud mom of three incredible boys, and a joyful grandmother to one precious grandson. Cooking, gardening, and nurturing my family are not just my passions—they’re the heartbeat of my existence. But let me share with you the journey that led me to create Graceful Mary.
In January 2020, my husband’s dream came alive when we opened our family restaurant, a labor of love that our two oldest sons dedicated themselves to alongside their father. Life was bustling and fulfilling—until the universe threw us a curveball. In March 2023, I received a shocking diagnosis: lung cancer.
At just 41 years old, I struggled to believe it. How could this happen to me? I’d fought the urge to smoke and had quit eight years prior. Our family was devastated after meeting the oncologist. But even amidst the fear, we clung to hope. A plan was formed—two types of chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy to shrink the tumor for safe surgery. We embarked on this journey together, with the summer filled with intense treatment cycles and the weight of illness hanging heavily over us. By mid-July, we learned that the tumor had not shrunk, and the cancer had spread to my other lung. Our hearts shattered as we realized surgery was now off the table, leaving us with the grim option of palliative care.
But despair didn’t win. A message from a compassionate customer about a similar journey and a clinical trial at MD Anderson reignited our flickering hope. With unwavering faith, we made the trip to Houston on July 21, ready to fight once more. Dr. Skoulidis, my thoracic oncologist, was not ready to give up on me. He suggested that the apparent growth might be the result of inflammation caused by the immunotherapy, and a biopsy would be our answer.
After a few weeks filled with tests and medical consultations, we discovered the cancer had NOT spread! This moment shifted everything for us, painting our world with renewed hope. On August 2, I met with Dr. Hoffstetter, who informed me that we could indeed proceed with surgery to remove the tumor. The idea of losing an entire lung loomed large, but I was ready for whatever it took to reclaim my life.
Surgery day arrived on September 11, and against all odds, the surgeon was able to save the upper lobe of my right lung. The sense of liberation I felt after a week in the hospital was profound. The hardest part was enduring the discomfort of a chest tube, but after it was removed, we received the pathology report that indicated more treatment was necessary: the cancer had begun to encroach upon lymph nodes and nerve tissue.
Our journey was far from over. A visit to the radiation oncologist, Dr. O’Reilly, brought the promise of a treatment plan I could embrace: proton therapy, a cutting-edge approach that targeted precisely where it needed to. Radiation began on October 23, a journey that would last six weeks, but I felt so incredibly blessed to have a plan that felt right.
Returning home was a euphoric reunion with my family, but the joy was coupled with anxiety. Life had irrevocably changed; routines dissolved, and financial worries clouded our path. For the first time, we faced the stark reality of our circumstances—medical expenses had drained us, forcing us to pause on dreams of building a home and enjoying vacations. Yet, we knew hardship. We grew up poor, and these tough times refined our resilience. Embracing a simpler way of life became not just a necessity but a beautiful, purposeful choice.
In those moments, I discovered profound happiness outside material wealth. Cancer, in all its horror, unveiled the beauty of life anew. I found myself alive, truly alive. This journey ignited a fire within me, compelling me to launch this blog—a space where I can share the things I adore, the lessons I’ve learned, and the vibrant joy that fills my heart. Join me as I navigate life with passion and purpose!
#ENDCANCER
Graceful Mary 