JACKSONVILLE, Fla.- It's a terrifying diagnosis...stage 4 breast cancer. A local mother is battling the disease and raising three young children.
Mary recently lost her sister to the same disease and it was the diagnosis of her sister that actually led her to get a special test to see if she was likely to get breast cancer too.
When she found out she was, she wanted a double mastectomy in hopes of avoiding the disease. But the doctors said no because she was pregnant.
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After Mary delivered, the news came that she had cancer.
"It's hard," Mary told Channel 4's Melanie Lawson. "See I told you I would cry. It's hard."
Mary Holm leaks a few tears when she thinks about all she's been through this year. In April she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer.
"Within two weeks my chest was swollen," Mary said. "Up in my shoulder the tumors were pressing into my arm. My whole arm was twice the size and I was in excruciating pain."
Mary is currently getting chemo. Most days she's exhausted, but she still has to be mom.
"I have three young children all under the age of 5," Mary said. "It's a lot of activity. It would be hard for anybody, for a healthy person."
Mary said it's very emotional, but she stays strong.
"I choose not to give into fear."
Mary's sister Debbie died of the same cancer less than five years ago.
They were two and half years apart and very close. Debbie was pregnant with her third child when she was diagnosed and like her sister, family came first.
"I am amazingly proud of their strength and we've always felt that with family, that God gives you the strength to deal with what you're dealing with," Mary said.
Barbara Russo is so proud of both her girls and believes this too will pass.
"Mary has always been an amazingly strong person so I have no doubt that she can make it through and show everybody that she can do it," Mary's mother Barbara said.
"We're going to get through," Mary said. "That's just it. We're in the middle of the game but we're looking to the end."
It's Mary's positive spirit and grace that has family and friends holding an Italian dinner and dance fundraiser Saturday night.
It's at 6:30 at the Italian American Club.
Send an email to sistaal@ymail.com for more information.
Anyone can also send in a donation to the Italian American Club:
Italian American Club
C/O Alison Gregory
PO Box 600725
Jacksonville, FL 32260
There's also a Zumba class fundraiser next Saturday, August 25th at Just Fitness 4 U in Baymeadows.