In 1997, Mary’s mother-in-law, Wilma, was diagnosed with a rare cancer called Leiomyosarcoma. For a year and a half she went through surgery and chemotherapy, but the conventional treatments didn’t work. In the spring of 1999, she agreed to participate in a clinical trial for a new procedure that was called a belly wash.
The procedure came with risks, but that didn’t bother Wilma. She told Mary, “No matter what happens to me – win, lose or draw – somebody somewhere will benefit from what they learn from me.” Mary marveled at Wilma’s bravery and commitment to helping others even at the end of her life. Six months later, Wilma passed away, but the procedure she underwent became the standard of care for her kind of cancer.
In 2003 Mary met Beth, whose life was saved from the belly wash, now known as a hot chemo bath. Beth is a daughter, a wife, a mom, a sister and a grandmother who owns her own business and gives back to her community. Mary sees Beth as someone who was able to fulfill some of the dreams that Wilma had before she died.
Mary was grateful that Wilma’s insurance covered the clinical trial and wants to see all Americans have access to clinical trials, regardless of the type of health insurance they have. “Clinical trials are hope. If you have exhausted traditional methods of treatment, why should anyone be able to steal your hope away? We don’t know how the treatments being researched today are going to help the person of tomorrow.”
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