Maureen's Story: Finding Strength in the Unexpected

Independent and full of life, Maureen filled her days with movement, creativity and connection. She loved the gym, painting, baking and live music, and nothing mattered more than time with her children and grandchildren. When she began feeling unusually tired, cancer was the last thing on her mind.

A series of scans changed everything. Suddenly, Maureen was facing pancreatic cancer and a road she never expected to walk. In early 2025, she underwent major surgery, followed by months of treatment that would test her strength in new ways.

“I’m a very positive person, but it was scary,” Maureen says. “Telling my children was incredibly hard.”

It was during this uncertain time that Maureen met her McGrath Cancer Care Nurses, Kristyn and Sarah. From the beginning, they became steady, reassuring figures, explaining what lay ahead, answering questions, and making space for both practical needs and quiet worries. They supported not only Maureen, but her whole family, helping them feel informed and less alone.

Throughout treatment, Maureen’s trademark humour and warmth never faded. Known as the “social butterfly” of the chemotherapy ward, she chatted with fellow patients, shared encouragement, and filled the space with light. On her final day of treatment, she arrived dressed as a fairy princess, complete with a pink wig and tiara, sparking laughter and applause.

For Kristyn and Sarah, walking alongside Maureen was at the heart of their role, caring for the whole person, not just the illness.

A long-time supporter of the McGrath Foundation, Maureen never imagined she would one day need this care herself. Looking back now, she is deeply grateful.