She started in poverty, endured abuse, and yet became an author, a mother, and rose into upper administration in the coal mining industry at a time when women in those roles were almost unheard of. When she received a cancer diagnosis with a white blood cell count of 132 and a palpable spleen, she simply shrugged and bought a hat that read, "I'm not dead yet."

As you can imagine, Mary has always been a light in a dark room, the life of the party. She shared with our palliative provider she was planning to have a living wake, because why should everyone else get to celebrate after she's gone? Then she confessed a worry: that she would be too tired to enjoy it, that her poor appetite would keep her from savoring her piña coladas and Miami Vices.

Our palliative provider, told her that would not do, and Mary and the provider made a plan to help manage her pain and increase her energy. After her Hawaii-themed celebration, we spoke with her daughter, who shared that Mary had kept up with everyone around her, laughing, visiting, and fully enjoying the party she had imagined.



We hope Mary’s story serves as a testament to what palliative care can offer. We don't always get to write our endings. But when we can help people shape those final chapters, they can still be exciting, memorable, joyful, and deeply worth living. Mary has since transitioned to Bluegrass Care Navigators’ hospice services, and we are grateful to have been a part of her journey.