At 4 years old, like most girls, Mary lived loving the Colorado sunshine, dancing, baking, country music, and spending time with her family; but most of all, taking care of animals- especially cats. She was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor, Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) on October 13, 2020.

Mary participated in 3 clinical trials and her willingness to fight, try new things, and her family’s belief that research will one day find a cure allowed Mary to have over 3 years to grow up as she fought and experience all she was able to. She had a strong faith and she met every medical challenge head on with the sass and determination of a person much older than she.

Mary loved to give gifts to everyone she met, even those she never met in person. Her giving heart insisted that everyone she heard about fighting cancer received a present from her. Mary went to be with Jesus after over 40 months of fighting at the age of 7 on March 4, 2024.

Mary’s dream was to become a veterinarian and she received her honorary veterinarian degree from CSU, and was “on staff” at Community Pet Hospital in Thornton, CO.