Mary’s Story: Saved Twice by Cardiology and Cancer Experts

This fall, Mary settled in at the University of Illinois, eager to begin her sophomore year. While undergoing cancer treatment the year prior, Mary took her freshman classes online and pursued a degree in community health. 

She hopes that one day, she’ll work at the hospital that saved her life not once, but twice.  

As a toddler, Mary was diagnosed with restrictive cardiomyopathy at Children’s Memorial Hospital (now Lurie Children’s), and was admitted as she waited for a donor heart. Though more than 15 years ago, Mary’s family still remembers the caregivers and child-focused activities that carried them through that time. 

“The staff was very supportive, and they all got to know Mary,” remembers Mary’s mom, Alissa. “We still keep in touch with many of her nurses from back then.” 

Mary went on to enjoy a healthy and well-rounded childhood and adolescence. But in the summer of 2023, just after high school graduation, she experienced sudden weight loss and became quite ill. As part of a routine heart transplant clinic appointment at Lurie Children’s, her team CT scans were ordered. The scans showed several enlarged lymph nodes, which were later biopsied.  

The day before Mary was set to move into college, she received the official diagnosis: Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma. 

New Diagnosis, Same Expertise 

Though Mary felt overwhelmed by the diagnosis, “it was a huge comfort to be in a familiar place,” she said.  

She was in capable hands: Lurie Children’s Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant Program has performed more than 1,500 stem cell transplants, making it one of the nation's largest pediatric programs of its kind. Under the care of the stem cell transplantation, oncology and nephrology teams, Mary began targeted chemotherapy treatments and prepared for a stem cell transplant using her own cells.

In January 2024, she was admitted to begin conditioning chemo in preparation for her stem cell transplant. On January 29, she received her stem cells that had been harvested in the fall. It was a bit of a bumpy road as she and her care team waited for the stem cells to graft, but Mary slowly started to improve once the cells grafted.  

Throughout it all, Mary worked hard to regain her strength with physical and occupational therapies, and expressed herself through art therapy. By spring, she was healthy and strong enough to return home with her family.  

Mary had the chance to celebrate her cancer-free status after many months of check-ups. In August 2024, she gathered with her friends, family and providers to ring the end-of-chemo bell. 

“It was exciting knowing all my doctors were coming down and celebrating with me,” she said.  

As part of the University of Illinois’ campus for the first time, Mary is attending classes in person, rushing in a sorority, and enjoying her good health. Maybe best of all, she’s able to fully embrace the present while looking forward to her bright future.  

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