Sarah Strong

“You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only option.”

Sarah McGrath, without doubt, is an amazing woman. 

To meet her, is to notice her infectious laugh, effusive smile, and sharp wit. To work with her as a teacher,  is to feel her compassion for all her students, intellect in each lesson, and the selflessness of her teamwork. To befriend her, is to be humbled by her generosity and fierce loyalty. 

Unbeknownst to most, are the moments that go by without acknowledgement, without recognition. The day-to-day moments of being a mother of two, a wife to a kind and stalworthy policeman, a devoted family member to her parents and siblings. And these are the moments worth noting because they demonstrate Sarah’s most profound quality - her strength. However, Sarah’s humility prevents her from ever saying this about herself, so we will say this for her.

Over the last 8 months, Sarah has undergone 12 rounds of chemotherapy, 4 surgeries, received 7 new scars, and had over 50 doctor appointments; she has given countless amounts of blood, received numerous shots, scans, and biopsies, and finally, became a research trial subject to be studied in research for the benefit of others in her position. Additionally, because she had to take leave of her work as a public school teacher due to health concerns during COVID while receiving chemo, her husband, John, has worked double and sometimes triple overtime. Her two children, Kyleigh (4) and John Thomas (2) have been with her every day due to COVID restrictions. Her beautiful furbaby, Sadie, needed specific care after her recent surgery. 

In sum, life went on. It did not stop for Sarah despite her cancer diagnosis. Nor did it define her personal limitation. To paraphrase Sarah herself, “They have been my stability, as they are unaware of exactly what is occurring. That sense of normalcy, and them continuing to live life usual, has forced me to do the same. I have to look forward... for them, no matter what." 

And this is what makes Sarah a strong, amazing woman. 

Therefore, the purpose of this GoFundMe is to come together as a community to contribute to the strength that is Sarah. Even without doing all the math, there is an indisputable toll, not only physically, but financially that comes with the ever-building burden of being a cancer survivor, let alone maintaining a family of four. As a public school teacher and a policeman, the McGrath family is truly a representation of “not all heroes wear capes”, as they have dedicated their lives to positively impacting the community. Let us see this opportunity to reciprocate with gratitude, affection, and if possible, donations, to help them conquer the “most challenging battle of her life.” 

Any contribution is appreciated, small and large. Though we recognize that cancer is indeed a lifelong battle, we hope that this fundraiser, as the celebration of her completion of chemotherapy, will allow the McGraths the time and energy to heal, both physically and emotionally, and focus on what matters most in a time of great difficulty - family.