A Note from our Founder, Michele Gannon
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Dear Friends of Mary’s Place,
Welcome to July! Summer is in full swing at the Jersey Shore. The beaches are bustling, finding a parking spot has become a sport, and porches are filled with family and friends enjoying long, warm evenings together… unless you’re not feeling 100%.
Several years ago, while recovering from major surgery, I was sitting in a wheelchair waiting for my ride home when I watched people rush past me – coffee in hand, talking on the phone, laughing with friends, making plans for the weekend. I remember feeling left behind. Every step I took was painful, and I knew my weekend would look very different from theirs. At that moment, a thought came to me: This is life on the sidelines.
That memory has stayed with me because I know so many women facing cancer feel that same way – watching life continue around them while they pause to heal.
So this month’s note is a quiet reminder to anyone who may be struggling right now.
If you are feeling disconnected from the energy and excitement of summer: you are not forgotten. Here at Mary’s Place by the Sea, we are holding space for you in our hearts. We hope this is only a temporary season of healing, and we are sending you love, strength, and comfort every step of the way.
If you’re looking for connection, encouragement, or simply a community that understands, please know that Mary’s Place is here for you, either in-person with a retreat or daily through our Virtual Services Program. You don’t have to walk this journey alone.
To everyone who makes this mission possible: our Board of Trustees, dedicated staff, incredible volunteers, compassionate practitioners, generous donors, and, most of all, our courageous guests, THANK YOU! Your kindness creates hope and healing every single day.
And wherever this summer finds you, please remember to take care of yourself with the same compassion you so freely offer others.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Michele Gannon
Founder & Executive Director
Mary’s Place by the Sea