“Get busy living or get busy dying.” That is the best advice that Mary Beth Fisher has ever received. It is also the quote she lives by and the best advice that she would give to others. Mary Beth is an attorney who works as a mediator and also as a guardian ad litem for children whose parents are going through divorce or custody battles. Because she is self-employed, Mary Beth can have some flexibility and adjust her work schedule to volunteer in various ways at her church, children’s schools, speaking at OSU…and making mittens.
Five years ago, at the age of 43, Mary Beth was diagnosed with Li Fraumeni syndrome and metastatic breast cancer. Since she was diagnosed, Mary Beth has undergone 5 ½ months of chemotherapy and has had over 22 surgeries. A year after her diagnosis, Mary Beth’s two children, Mason and Maria were also diagnosed with Li Fraumeni syndrome. There are approximately 500 families in the world that have this condition which causes you to be at high risk for multiple types of cancer and there is no cure. Mary Beth and her family spend one week each year at the National Institute of Health undergoing medical testing and studies. They undergo annual total body MRI’s, brain MRI’s, quarterly abdominal/pelvic ultrasounds, urinalysis, blood work, dermatology appointments, eye appointments, dental appointments, and regular physicals. Mary Beth’s son Mason also sees a neurologist for seizures and migraines and has a GI specialist for abnormal test results.
After Mary Beth received the news that she had given her 2 children the genetic condition, she had to make the decision to practice what she preaches to her children. “I needed to trust God and be grateful. Once I could wrap my head around the news and give my worries to God, I was able to move on, recognizing all that I had to be thankful for.”
With everything that Mary Beth and her family have had to endure, she says that her husband Mark is her strong support system. “My husband was at every chemotherapy and every surgery with me. He rearranged his work schedule, so he would not miss any of these treatments. He sat for hours just watching me as I received treatment. My husband is loving and devoted. He is kind and solid as a rock. He is my backbone and support and never wants credit for all of the good he does.”
In 2012, Mary Beth and her family decided to participate in the bike ride called Pelatonia. As part of the bike ride, they had to raise $4,000 to participate. As a fundraiser, Mary Beth decided to take old wool sweaters and make mittens out of them. She and her family worked on the mittens on nights and weekends and raised enough money to meet their goal. Mary Beth is now being contacted by people to take the sweaters of their deceased relatives and make mittens for their living relatives. “There are many ways to help raise money for cancer research. In my small way, I will help one day at a time, one mitten at a time. It’s a simple plan, as long as someone orders, I’ll keep making the mittens!”
For more details and to place your own order, visit gratefulheartdesign.com