Hello everyone. I am Megan McAnulty, Sally’s oldest child.

On Friday, October 3rd, I got the call I have been dreading. My beautiful momma lost her battle with cancer.

My mom fought hard for nearly two years. In February 2023, she was diagnosed with stage 4 larynx cancer and stage 1 lung cancer. She underwent 35 rounds of radiation and 7 rounds of chemotherapy directed at the larynx. She also completed 3 rounds of radiation on her lungs, but then she woke up one morning struggling to breathe and had to be rushed to the ER for an emergency tracheostomy. After that, the doctors told us the only hope for getting rid of the larynx cancer was to do a total laryngectomy. This meant they would need to rebuild her entire throat and remove her larynx - meaning she would lose the ability to speak vocally. The doctors advised against it, emphasizing “quality versus quantity” of life. As a family, we decided to give it a try because anything was worth a shot if it meant keeping my mom alive. Maybe it was the wrong choice, because it made the last year of her life torturous with how swollen and painful her face was.

Then, in November 2024, my brother, Sally’s oldest son, Kaleb was murdered. We all thought my mom would follow shortly after. I mean, how much can the human body and mind endure? To juggle multiple types of cancer, constant treatment, dozens of surgeries, the loss of your routines, the loss of your voice, and then the loss of your oldest son - it is just cruel. However, she kept fighting. That was just the type of person she was, strong, determined, and brave.

Things went okay until March. In March, my mom had a severe stroke that left the entire right side of her body paralyzed and robbed her of her understanding of language. This meant that we could no longer communicate through writing or mouth movements, only by holding fingers up or reading her facial expressions. After this, my mom began hospice care. My dad deserves so much recognition for how he stepped up and took care of my mom, especially considering the fact that they divorced in 2021. He provided constant, loving care for her at home for seven months. I know I’ve said it a million times, but thank you, Dad.

During hospice care, my mom was still able to do a lot of things for herself despite being partially paralyzed. However, over Labor Day weekend, it appeared that she had another stroke. She was so high-risk that the doctors couldn’t do anything about it. Things started declining rapidly, and on October 3rd, she took her last breath, at only 52 years old.

It’s hard to wrap my head around the fact that my mom is really gone, that I’ll never see her beautiful face again. She will be terribly missed, but she left an impact on this world that will last far beyond her lifetime.

My mom was beautiful, kind, loving, nurturing, funny, witty, creative, intelligent, hard-working, loyal, and the strongest and bravest person I will ever meet. She brought so much light and warmth into our family, and she filled every space she entered with life. She had a way of making everyone feel seen, special, and cared for. This was especially evident in her handmade gifts, the way she would drop everything for someone in need, and in the way she hugged you. She had the biggest heart, loved deeply and without hesitation, and never expected anything in return.

Her creativity showed up in everything she touched, from her art, to our family home, to the way she celebrated the people she loved. Even when she was sick or in pain, she still found ways to smile, to crack jokes, and to remind everyone to be grateful for each and every day. She was truly the glue that held our family together and the soul that made it feel like home.

I love you forever, Mom. I’ll miss you forever. For as long as I live, I will strive to make you proud. You sacrificed so much for me, and I promise I won’t let it go to waste. I hope you’re resting easy. I hope you, Kaleb, and Grandma are reunited and having a beautiful picnic. Keep sending me signs that you’re watching over me. I love you.

We have set up this GoFundMe page to assist with my mom’s end-of-life services. If there’s any excess, it will go toward helping my dad with living expenses as he heals from a fusion surgery - something he has postponed for over a year while caring for my mom.