Maria Mason was a familiar face around Ramsgate, Kent, known by her friends and neighbors as someone who would give you the shirt off her back. At 57 years old, she still had plenty of life left to live and spent her days looking out for her kids, spoiling her grandkids, and enjoying the simple things. But everything changed in an instant over what initially seemed like a routine physical ache.
For a while, Maria had been dealing with nagging discomfort in her stomach and lower back. Like a lot of folks her age, she figured it was just arthritis flaring up again. She tried to tough it out at home, assuming a little rest or basic care would get her through the rough patch.
When the discomfort did not clear up, she went to get checked out at Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in nearby Margate. The medical team ran a full battery of tests to see what was really going on behind the scenes. Nobody in the family expected the news that came back from the lab.
Doctors broke the devastating news that Maria had pancreatic cancer. Even worse, follow-up scans revealed the disease was already advanced and had spread to her lungs, stomach, and lymph nodes. What Maria thought was a minor joint issue turned out to be an aggressive late-stage illness with virtually no treatment options left on the table.
The progression was brutally fast. Maria was moved to Pilgrims Hospice so the medical staff could keep her comfortable and free of pain. Surrounded by the people who loved her most, she passed away just seven days after receiving her diagnosis. The sudden loss left everyone who knew her completely numb.
Beyond her sudden illness, Maria was a woman who had already carried heavy emotional burdens in her life. She had spent ten wonderful years with her partner, Derek, before his passing left a giant hole in her heart. During their time together, the couple fell in love with Thailand, traveling there whenever they could and creating some of the happiest memories of their lives.
Before she died, Maria made one final request to her loved ones: she wanted her ashes brought to Thailand so she could symbolically rest alongside Derek. Because her illness moved so fast, she never had the chance to get her finances in order or set money aside for a funeral. Now, her family has set up an online fundraiser to help cover the burial costs and make sure her last wish comes true.
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