This Go Fund Me Page was started last year after we learned of my sister's cancer recurrance and surgery. Unfortunately, she learned last month (4/2023) that her cancer had returned and she needs a third and very significant surgery. Therefore to continue to support her and her family, this Go Fund Me page remains open and I will continue to update it. The page starts with her surgery last year and subsequent updates. I can't thank everyone enough who has supported my sister over this past year and continues to do so either with thoughts, prayers, encouraging texts and messages, as well as financially.

February of 2022: Please help join my sister Mary Toennis and her family as they battle cancer for the second time.

Mary was diagnosed with gastrointestinal tract cancer right after Christmas in 2018, just three months after her daughter was born. Mary bravely underwent multiple surgeries, radiation, and chemotherapy. She was finally cancer-free in the Spring of 2018. Unfortunately, she had many complications and pain following treatment.

After her successful battle with cancer, Mary began working as a Medical Assistant in an Oncology Department at U.C. Medical Center in West Chester. She helps provide hope and support to other cancer patients during their struggles. During the pandemic, Mary continued her work as a front-line worker, helping patients deal with not only the stress of cancer, but also being vulnerable during a pandemic.

We recently got the terrible news that Mary has a recurrence of cancer. Luckily, the tumor is localized and can be treated with surgery. However, this is a pretty major surgery, leaving Mary with a permanent ostomy bag. Mary will have surgery on Februrary the 11th at UC West Chester Hospital, where she works. She will be in the hospital for four days to a week and has months of recovery. This is not an easy surgery, but Mary is tremendously brave and ready to put on her boxing gloves again.

Mary is a loving wife and mother to her two beautiful children! However, she and her family continue to struggle to keep up with the hospital bills and still have a $12.000 outstanding hospital bill from her first cancer experience. While they do have insurance, they are looking at an even larger hospital and surgery bill, ongoing medication and supply expenses, childcare costs, and costs from being out of work.

If you can, please consider helping Mary and her family! She has a meal train set up as well as this GoFundMe account. If you prefer to donate personally, I am happy to provide her Venmo account or set something up privately.

From Mary: "Thank you for keeping my family and me in your thoughts and prayers. We greatly appreciate it! I'm so blessed to have an amazing support system from my family, friends, coworkers. They have all shown up to help and offer anything they can. I love you all. Stay blessed. #toennistough, #boxingglovesbackon, #cancersucks"