09/16/2025
Fitness enthusiasts Bob and Maria of the Eastern Shore of Maryland were shocked last April when he was diagnosed with brain cancer at age 63. A seizure that caused him to have a car accident sent him to the ER. At the hospital, he was diagnosed with a rare brain cancer connected to a BRCA2 gene mutation.
Due to the complexity of his diagnosis, the couple decided that their best treatment option was at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore. Fortunately, Johns Hopkins is conducting a clinical trial that offers one of the latest treatment advancements for Bob’s cancer, and he was accepted into the trial.
Bob had successful surgery at Johns Hopkins, but the next challenge was where to stay in Baltimore while he underwent 30 rounds of radiation therapy. “We have kids, animals, our jobs. We had no idea what the journey would be like,” says Maria, who did her research and discovered Hope Lodge Baltimore. “I called Hope Lodge at 6:30 a.m., and they told me we could live there. We were lucky to meet their guidelines. We couldn’t believe it. I don’t think my husband would be where he is in recovery if it weren’t for Hope Lodge – financially, emotionally, and physically Hope Lodge made it possible for him to get the care he needed.”
Bob was able to work remotely from Hope Lodge. Maria adds, “It was the safest place to be during treatment; the support you get is incredible. Every guest is a survivor or a family member touched by cancer, so they understand what we’re all going through. They bond together in the evening to support each other. The staff are wonderful. It’s obvious that everyone who works at Hope Lodge wants to be there. I think it’s the most fulfilling job to know that you’ve given cancer patients the ability to live.”
Maria and her husband were so pleased with their stay that they nicknamed it their “Cancer Camp Honeymoon.” They were married in 2017, have a blended family, and never had the time to honeymoon. Maria, a fitness professional, says that they utilized the Hope Lodge gym and were thankful and amazed by the bountiful nutritious food made available through Moveable Feast.
There were a couple of days that Maria needed to go home, so a friend stayed at Hope Lodge with Bob. According to Maria, the friend is a world traveler and told her, “Out of all my experiences, I’ve never experienced humanity like this in my life.”
Bob was able to work remotely from Hope Lodge. Maria adds, “It was the safest place to be during treatment; the support you get is incredible. Every guest is a survivor or a family member touched by cancer, so they understand what we’re all going through. They bond together in the evening to support each other. The staff are wonderful. It’s obvious that everyone who works at Hope Lodge wants to be there. I think it’s the most fulfilling job to know that you’ve given cancer patients the ability to live.”
“I cried when we left Hope Lodge for home,” says Maria. “I felt safe at Hope Lodge. When cancer comes knocking at your door, you don’t know what to do. Hope Lodge is incredible.”
Maria is participating in the Relay For Life event at Wicomico County on September 19 at Winterplace Park to support the American Cancer Society. She would love other cancer survivors and their families in the area to join her. She is part of the top team called, “Team Bucket,” and says, “Your donations help the American Cancer Society fund groundbreaking cancer research, prevention, and treatment, and crucial patient care programs. Please consider joining me at Relay For Life to celebrate and support cancer survivors. www.relayforlife.org/wicomicomd.
