Miracles for Maria

Maria Ritchie was an Interior Designer living in Portland, Oregon, and looking forward to turning 31 over the summer – when she got the shocking news that stopped her world from turning.  The Northeast Ohio native learned she was living with Invasive Stage 3 Breast Cancer. To make matters worse – within just weeks of receiving her diagnosis – Maria was laid off from her job, ensuring she would also lose her insurance.

We are all determined by Maria’s fighting faith - that she will defeat this disease – and continue living the phenomenal life she loves. But this warrior of will has enough to worry about while battling her stubborn sickness.  Maria’s very last concern at this trying time – should be how to make her rent, afford healthy food, and keep her lights on – as she recovers from relentless Chemotherapy treatments.

Miracles for Maria was established to provide the helping hand, and the fighting chance she needs to overcome this cancer, without further disrupting her care and routine responsibilities. 


Learn more - at Miracles for Maria's website
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Most Recent Update! 

Hello, friends of Miracles for Maria. It’s been about 2 years since Maria first received her diagnosis. We wanted and needed to bring you an update of Maria’s current situation, and once again ask for your help, if you are able. Maria is still in Portland, where she has confidence in her medical team that has been treating her since her diagnosis. In summary, Maria has now endured three different Chemo treatments, all of which have been unsuccessful. This unrelenting Cancer has now left her in the fight of her life, as it has attacked her Bones, Liver, and Lungs. Maria’s weakened state has resulted in several nights in the hospital, and many sleepless nights for Laura, Nate, Amanda, and Anna. Maria, hasn’t rested well for several weeks now, which only contributes to her weakness. While Anna or Amanda have been with Maria since the onset of this ordeal, and Laura and Nate have traveled back and forth numerous times, earlier this month they dropped everything, and flew to Portland. with no immediate plans to
return. So that is our update, we believe you would want to know. We are asking for any financial help you may be able to provide. You can make a direct donation via a check to Miracles for Maria at 2563 Arbor Court, Uniontown Ohio 44685, or if it’s easier through our GO FUND ME at
https://www.gofundme.com/f/miraclesformariaritchie Another option, is to purchase an official Miracles for Maria face mask. Josh Ritchie and Ritchie’s Sporting Goods designed a beautiful mask with all proceeds going directly to the M4M account! Go to Ritchiesports.com and look for the
Miracles for Maria's mask. We understand that many of you may be managing hardships of your own. We pray that you and your families are safe and healthy, and that soon we will be able to celebrate a Miracle for Maria, together.

God Bless,
Miracles for Maria

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A Sick Child, A Mother’s Nightmare

It’s a call every parent dreads… on a day we will never forget… June 20, 2018.  Our middle daughter, Maria, calling us from Portland, Oregon, to share some heartbreaking news.  

“Hi, mom… Are you home? Is dad there too? I need to talk to both of you together… I have something I need to tell you…”  Silence. Our 30-year-old baby girl, living thousands of miles away… then reveals she has BREAST CANCER.

She needed us to be strong, and do what we could.  A child’s first response to a catastrophic event in life – Mom and Dad can fix this. I was on a plane the next day, and accompanied her to an Oncologist appointment, who confirmed the diagnosis… Stage 3 Ductal and Inflammatory Cancer of the right breast.  We bravely marched forward together as a family – garnering every resource we could – ready to fight this battle.

Labs, scans, x-rays, and appointments directed us down the path of Chemo, radiation and future surgery as her treatment plan. The next moments moving so quickly, our minds became encumbered with twisted thoughts and fraught with fear. What does Maria need, were we doing all we could, how would we pay for this? All while my husband was left to relay the news to friends and family back home.

Luckily – my prayer group was waiting in the wings to do what we do when a calamity strikes any of us… We PRAY… “Girls, I need you!” Knowing my Club Girls were with us on the journey had an immediate calming effect. The Miracles Prayer chain was in motion – and “Our Lord was working on our family.”

Life never stops, however, and I had to return home. Our overwhelming anxiety as parents can’t fill the thousands of miles between us… or bring us any closer to Maria. Despite our desire to be by her side, responsibilities hold us back. But - In our first sign that miracles were beginning to transpire - our youngest daughter Anna uprooted her whole life to move to Oregon. Anna answered the call to come to Maria’s aid – and eased all our minds in doing so.

We were six Chemotherapy sessions in… when the other shoe dropped. In a second devastating blow – Maria learned the studio she worked for would be closing - and her job would be lost.

“What will I do…” she called us in tears. “I’m sick, I’m bald and I have cancer… who would hire me?” We encouraged her to use this time to heal, stay healthy and focus on her treatments. “Don’t worry, we’ll get through this,” we told her as we scrambled to figure out what to do next.

That’s when “Miracles for Maria” was initiated. We need help in sustaining our daughter until she’s healed and back on her feet. We need assistance to pay her bills, fund her living expenses, secure her insurance and finance her remaining treatments and operations.

With the greatest respect and gratitude for all the prayers and encouragement from our friends, family and even strangers… we are hoping you can open your hearts and your wallets for us in our plight. Asking for help is not comfortable for us, but we’ll do anything for our children.  Please help us to help Maria on this journey.

Love,
Laura Ritchie