On love, loss and the gift of time: Jack and Mary’s story
On love, loss and the gift of time: Jack and Mary’s story
Original published date: 1/24/2024
Jack lost his beloved wife, Mary, to MDS, so he ran in her honor to raise funds for NMDP and help others receive the gift of time through transplant
Some people spend their whole lives searching for true love—but Jack hit the jackpot early when he met his beloved wife, Mary. And then they lived happily ever after for more than 40 years.
But even the happiest of fairytales have their foes—and in 2022, Jack and Mary met theirs: myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Her only chance at a cure was a blood stem cell transplant. Mary's doctors worked with NMDP and found a suitable donor in Germany, but airline strikes delayed her treatment. During this time, her MDS converted to acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a very aggressive form of cancer.
Mary finally received her transplant in May 2023, but sadly she passed away by October that same year. Despite the brief period, the transplant gave her the gift of time—the chance to enjoy more moments with Jack, her kids and grandkids, which they all treasured dearly.
To honor his loving wife and express gratitude for NMDP, Jack fundraised for the mission by participating in the Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend.
The funds he raised went directly to programs critical to our mission, including growing the donor registry so patients like Mary can find their best donor quickly—and closer to home.
"[NMDP] gives people the greatest gift of all, which is life," Jack said.
With NMDP, good goes a long way—and with fundraisers, you can do a lot of good, too, for the patients who need us. Fundraise for NMDP makes it easy to raise money in the way that feels best for you.
Everyone's best friend
Mary was an amazing wife, mother and grandmother. She was also a lifelong exercise enthusiast who loved to golf, run and be a personal trainer. She dedicated a lot of her time to various charities, too.
Mary was open, warm, empathetic, kind—she lit up every room she was in," said Jack. "Everyone thought she was their best friend."
- Jack
Every moment counts
"[Blood] stem cell transplant is hard and debilitating—it's not for the faint of heart. She kept a good attitude the whole time, though," said Jack.
After losing Mary, instead of focusing on the sadness and grief, Jack chose gratitude. He said he feels incredibly grateful to have had all those wonderful years with his best friend—and grateful to NMDP for finding a donor and giving their family the ultimate gift: more time to spend together.
"The people making the decision to go through the transplant process are unbelievably brave, but they want to spend more time with their loved ones," Jack explained.
In honor of Mary
Jack's decision to honor Mary by fundraising for NMDP through the Walt Disney Marathon Weekend not only honored his wife but also brought back beautiful memories of her own passion for running for a cause.
Through the collective efforts of their family and friends, more than $24,000 was raised for "Team Nana."
These gifts help fund programs vital to our life-saving mission, including transplant research, financial assistance for families and growing the registry so more patients find their best donor and get timely treatment.
Ultimately, Jack hopes the funds he raised help families spend more time with their loved ones:
"Life and hope are the greatest gifts we can give each other."
Like Jack, you can give the gift of time, too—even starting today. Fundraising is a great way to do good because it all goes directly to helping patients and our life-saving mission.