Round 7 of Chemo - Together for Mary: A Fight Against Cancer

With strength and unity, we can beat cancer: Mary Barker’s story

Hi…my name is Mary Barker. I am 68 years old with a lot of life before me. A short time ago I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer (ER+/PR-/HER2-), which is very aggressive. I am reaching out to you in hopes of a little support from friends, family and strangers (soon to be friends). I am currently on Medicare, which covers some of my procedures, but not all. Once I beat cancer, and “I will”, I hope to have reconstructive surgery to try and feel normal again. This is going to be a long journey and my daughters and their families have all gathered together to be my support system. It is a lot to ask, but they have told me over and over, we are going to be here with you every step of the way. You have always been there for us and we will always be there for you. Together, we will win. We got this! It warms my heart and I am truly the luckiest person to have such amazing children.

My story: This all started a couple months ago with something not feeling right. I told my daughters and they both told me; you need to schedule an appointment and get checked out. Just in case...

Like many women before me and unfortunately after me, I approached this with tons of skepticism. I’ve never been seriously ill. I’m sure it’s nothing, just a false alarm. The doctors will send me home with some meds and it’ll be over. Well, after several rounds of tests and exams I was sent home to wait for the results. It literally felt like an eternity, allowing my mind to really start thinking the worst. Of course, I started researching as much as I could online. That was the wrong thing to do. I was on information overload and I really started imagining the worst. After many days of waiting and wondering, I finally received the call. I was at the grocery store picking up a few things for dinner. My mind immediately went blank and loud noises around me went completely silent. I was in shock. No way did I just hear that. This can’t be real! For several days I sat in disbelief thinking this was all just a horrible dream or maybe a misdiagnosis or the wrong number maybe. How could this be?

I’ve faced many challenges and hardships in my life and I’d like to share a little about me. Before all this happened, I felt the happiest I have felt in a very long time. I have a beautiful family and comfortable life. I am a mother, grandmother and now great grandmother. I have two sons, four daughters, 12 grand kids, one great granddaughter with another on the way. About 25 years ago, my daughter Holly Ann passed away in a horrific car accident when she was only 19 years old. Losing a child is the most difficult thing I’ve ever been through. I literally died inside and went into deep depression for years. God has tested me over and over, but I know He will only not put things before me that I can handle. My faith in God has never wavered. My sweet daughter was and is “my angel”. I know she has always been by my side in tough times and I often talk to her when I need a little help. About two years ago, my husband of 37 years passed away with liver cancer. I know my husband and my daughter are together in Heaven watching over me. They’ve told me it’s not my time. They know my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren still need me here.

All my life I have put others needs before my own. This time, I have no choice but to accept my path and put myself first. This is going to be very difficult for me because I’ve always cared for others first.

Please support me in any way you can to help me focus on my treatment and beating CANCER. I know this is not going to be easy, but with my support system and your prayers “I CAN DO THIS!”

Love and prayers,

Mary Barker