Support Cary's Battle Against Breast Cancer

Dear Cary's friends, 

Many of you have heard that our strong, caring and beautiful friend Cary was recently diagnosed with Breast Cancer. She refers to this as the cherry on top, because many people know she has been through so much in her life.

BUT, cancer is not the cherry on top. Cary is going to kick Cancer's ass just like we all know she can!!! She is one of the hardest working women I think I've ever met in my life. "Strength lies not in the absence of fear, but in the courage to face it head on". Cary embodies that quote. She has raised 2 amazing children and is currently supporting Madelyn and Quinn through college in Wilmington as a single mom. She works all the time and never hesitates to help out in any way she can. Madelyn is in her LAST semester of nursing school and will graduate in December! As you can imagine, this is hard for Cary to realize she will not be able to work and will have to take a step back for 6 months to focus on taking care of herself. If you know Cary, you know she doesn't like to ask for help. BUT she has so many friends that want to help! We want to say THANK YOU to everyone that has reached out to offer love, support, prayers and good vibes.

On June 6, 2024, Cary had to get a biopsy after her yearly mammogram and on June 7 her phone alerted her that she had new path results available in her MyChart. That is when she found out that she had Triple Negative Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Stage 1, Grade 3. Cary, Madelyn and Quinn spent the weekend together processing that terrible news. Cary has always called her, Madelyn and Quinn the "3 Little Birds" and as you can imagine as Bob Marley sings "every little thing is gonna be alright". The one thing that stands out when hearing this news is that BOTH Cary and Madelyn said "I'm/(Mom is) going to be here in 10 years. 

God works in mysterious ways. Cary went on a cruise in January and reconnected with one of her college best friends, Sonya. In May she found out Sonya had AML. Cary has been there, updating Caring Bridge, raising money and offering support every step of the way. That is who Cary is! Now it's time for all of us to show Cary the same love and support!!! Because of some fun trips to Mexico and NOLA, her mammogram was postponed. If she would have had her yearly mammogram in January this tumor could have not been there or potentially missed. We are so thankful!

After she learned of her diagnosis, Cary also had plans to see her FAVE guy Dave Matthews play in Raleigh and a family trip planned at our dear friend's beach house in Carolina Beach. She NEEDED this. We all NEEDED this. She was able to spend time with Madelyn & Quinn along with some of her dearest friends Christina, Lana, and Dawn. Hannah and I were so lucky to meet them and laugh while they shared some of their favorite nursing school stories! Of course, Quinn made sure all the ladies were taken care of on the beach. He loves his mama so much! We all know Sonya and Cary's other dear friends would have been there if they could have. This is a journey to not endure alone. 

Thankfully the tumor is less than 2 cm and her BRCA GENE came back negative!!! Today Cary and Madelyn met with her oncologist, Dr. Crook, to go over her plan of action. We all know Cary and that she is a fighter! "The human spirit is like a phoenix; it rises stronger after every trial".

Cary will have a clip placed July 2 and her amazing surgeon, Dr. Christman, will do a lumpectomy on July 5, 2024. It will take 2 weeks for surgical pathology to come back before her final treatment is decided. As of now if #1) her tumor is less than 2 cm and/or #2) there is NO lymph node involvement she will stay stage 1. We need all the prayers, love and good vibes that we get that news on July 19. As of now, Cary will undergo chemotherapy for 4 months (August-October), followed by 1 month of rest before finishing off with radiation. She will be unable to work until January 2025. We all know how smart Cary is, and thankfully she has disability insurance. However, that doesn't kick in until 3 months from the start of this whole process. This is where we can help her, love her, and support her. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Please feel free to share, text, and post!

Again, thank you all for all the love, prayers, support.

Attached is a CaringBridge link so everyone can stay up to date, offer love and support, and to provide a way of communication during Cary's journey.

Marie