Maria’s Story
The beneficiary of the 2nd Annual Sean Ryan Memorial Golf Classic is 27-year-old Maria Beavers from Woodbury, MN. Throughout her diagnosis, she’s been a pivotal contributor to the Brain Tumor Community showing her support, raising awareness and continuing to advocate for others while navigating her own journey. Maria received the 2023 Warrior Award through the Cristian Rivera Foundation, remains actively involved with The Cure Starts Now, and has raised substantial funds through Maria’s Miracle to support others battling brain cancer, among many other impactful efforts.
In Maria’s Words:
My name is Maria. Growing up I always dealt with headaches, but migraines run in my family so I wasn’t that concerned over them. I finally got a doctor to refer me to get an MRI done. When the doctor ordered the scan, he explained to me that some people just have headaches and that I very likely would not find anything on my MRI. I knew I wanted the scan. In June of 2020, my MRI results came in: anaplastic astrocytoma on my brainstem or diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). There was, and still is, no cure. Because of the location, it is inoperable. The 5 year survival rate is below 1%. The MRI results were essentially a death sentence.
Since diagnosis, I’ve had 60 rounds of radiation, hundreds of MRIs, several rounds of CAR T-cell therapy, five different brain surgeries, thousands of doctor appointments, months of immunotherapy and countless amounts of chemotherapy.
Although I am proud of myself for hitting the 5-year mark from diagnosis, DIPG significantly impacts me. My blood count numbers are very below average. This causes extreme fatigue and nausea. I also struggle a lot with walking and maintaining my center of gravity. Due to damage from DIPG and radiation, the left half of my face and eye are completely numb. My optic nerve has been severely damaged and very likely will not recover. Mental tasks have become practically impossible this past year or so. I even lost my job due to cancer complications last November. Many days, I feel like I would be better off dead. Sometimes I wish I was.
As a 22 year old diagnosed with terminal cancer, I thought I would never find love. I cried over this thought many times. In 2022 I met Cody, the love of my life. He has made my life worth living and has been my rock through it all. We were married in a small ceremony in November 2024. We were engaged to be married regardless, but we got married early right before the start of 2025 to ensure I had health insurance (very romantic, I know).
Even though I was given a death sentence, I wanted to do something to help others with DIPG. Shortly after I was diagnosed, I began a campaign selling merchandise called Maria’s Miracle. The campaign ran for about a month. I was able to raise around $24,000 from solely selling merchandise. [These proceeds were donated to the Cristian Rivera Foundation and The Cure Starts Now]
I believe in myself and I believe there will be a cure for DIPG in my lifetime.
-Maria Beavers
Maria’s campaign, Maria’s Miracle, is a beautiful testament to her resilience and her belief in the possibility of a cure. It’s a shining example of how one person’s efforts can create a ripple effect of hope and change.
We want to express our heartfelt appreciation for Maria sharing pieces of her powerful and vulnerable story with us. Her incredible courage in the face of adversity is truly inspiring. The strength she has shown while navigating the hardships of her journey is nothing short of remarkable. We are deeply moved by her willingness to open up about her experiences, and we admire her unwavering determination to make a difference for others facing similar challenges.
Thank you, Maria, for allowing us to be a part of your journey. You are a true inspiration to all of us, and we are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to support you in any way we can. Your story reminds us all to cherish each day and to keep believing in the power of hope.
To continue following Maria’s journey, check out her blog and CaringBridge.
