06/15/2026
🎗️ 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 🎗️
June is National Cancer Survivors Month, a time to celebrate the strength, courage, and resilience of those who have faced cancer and continue to inspire us every day.
This month, we are honored to recognize Mary Wade Martin, MD, a leukemia survivor and member of the reining community.
"5 years ago next month, I was 3 months in to a new job in Beaumont, TX as a gynecologist, when I was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Life was no longer under my control. I couldn’t work, couldn’t care for my horses, dogs, or myself. After making medical decisions for others for so many years, decisions were made for me. Hospitalization for months meant being unable to get out of bed by myself, being sent for procedures and tests, sometimes to be rescheduled after waiting for hours. Waiting for food to arrive: chemo diets, renal diets, transplant diets, and sometimes failing to arrive at all when procedures were delayed. Masked consultants, hospital staff and clergy appeared randomly, and rounds became my only opportunity to participate, to advocate, and to study this new branch of medicine. In fact, I attended virtual lectures throughout that year and the one that followed my successful stem cell transplant.
The most important thing I learned, however, is that we don’t actually control our lives. We are dependent upon a benevolent God who inspires those who pray for us, clean us, cook for us, minister to our needs and sometimes simply sit wordlessly with us. The Rein In Cancer Fund is one such way to simply be present while God works. Thank you. I am blessed beyond measure." -Mary Wade Martin, MD
Today, Mary celebrates nearly five years since her diagnosis and continues to enjoy life with her horse, Shadow Rollz (Rollz Royce x Shadowcat Hickory), a 2020 mare.
Thank you, Mary, for sharing your story and reminding us that hope, faith, and community can carry us through even the most difficult battles. 💜
If you are a cancer survivor, we invite you to share your story in the comments so we can celebrate you this month as well.
Shorty's Caboy Hattery