Help Support Mary Mead Gibbs

Stephen John Smith and Mary Mead Gibbs (Credit: Martha Gallagher)

My good friend Mary Mead Gibbs’ life has been in limbo for nearly six years. There is no cure for the stage 4 breast cancer she lives with; the cancer is “managed” with ongoing chemo treatments.

As if the cancer weren’t bad enough, things are getting even rougher now for her. Her husband, Stephen John Smith, had to leave his job as a librarian to be able to give Mary Mead the round-the-clock care she requires. Mounting expenses of daily life plus medical bills have exhausted their resources. Now they need our help. *

People who know Mary Mead will find it hard to believe that she lives 24/7 in her bed in one room of their house – and has for nearly four years. The cancer has run amok through her bones; she has lost most of her capacity for mobility; walking, moving, even simply being able to sit up in a chair. She was not expected to live when the full extent of her cancer was diagnosed; however, she continues to defy the odds and plans to celebrate her 60th birthday this year.

This wonderful woman is far more stressed about their precarious financial state than her cancer at this point, being very afraid that they will lose their home as they are unable to keep up mortgage payments. Financial assistance to help them maintain and balance the basic quality of life that they live in their uncertain life circumstances is very much needed.

Through the difficult six years since her original diagnosis, both Mary Mead and Stephen have retained their senses of humor, compassion for others, and wonderful outlook on life. They are truly gems in this world.

Thank you for anything that you can do to help this wonderful woman and her husband, who, even with their life challenges, continue to bring beauty and love into this world!

Go here to send support: GoFundMe: Please Help My Friends.

More about Mary Mead

As a much respected and very well-liked massage therapist and acupuncturist for 30 years, Mary Mead has helped scores of folks in northeastern NY feel great, heal, and live healthier lives. I am one of those people that she helped. Her compassion for people, her passion for knowledge of healing arts, and her gentle sense of humor made her a “go to” person when one was hurting.

More about Stephen

Stephen is an amazing visual artist. He just built and launched a website (stephenjohnsmith.com) in an effort to make a living while caring for Mary Mead. Like most new endeavors, however, it may take quite a while for his art to be able to support them.

How You Can Help

*My name is Martha Gallagher and I have known Mary Mead and Stephen for over 20 years. We had been out of touch for a while, so when I recently received and read a letter from Stephen outlining Mary Mead’s health challenges, I just stood in my hallway and cried. I started visiting them and we’ve had many long, wonderful talks, with both tears and laughter, in Mary Mead’s room.

I offered to set up a GoFundMe campaign to help them. I put it up in Mary Mead’s name as it seemed the best way to handle the logistics.

Thank you so much for what you can do to help Mary Mead and Stephen! Go here if you can donate or just to see some ways to share this story — GoFundMe: Please Help My Friends.

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