She lives in Durham, North Carolina, with her fiancé—the high school sweetheart who’s been by her side through every step of her journey—and their beloved corgi, Finn. Finn, by the way, is a very spoiled dog (and he wouldn’t have it any other way).

Mary might call herself “boring,” but her hobbies tell a different story. She’s an avid reader with a Master’s degree in Victorian literature—Dracula and Wuthering Heights top her list of favorites—and she spends time building dollhouses or crafting dream homes in The Sims. In another life, she thinks she’d be an interior designer. But this life? It’s one that’s been shaped by Friedreich’s Ataxia (FA), a rare, progressive neurological disease she was diagnosed with at just 9 years old.

“Being diagnosed at 9 was honestly not bad, for me anyway,” Mary shares. “When you’re a kid, you don’t think anything is permanent or serious.” For her, it wasn’t until a few years later that the weight of the diagnosis set in. The middle school years were the hardest, which most of us can relate to. But hers was a time of pre-teen self-consciousness mixed with worsening balance and the stares of those who didn’t understand.

By 18, Mary’s balance issues had progressed to the point of needing her first wheelchair. Still, she remained surrounded by unwavering support: friends who linked arms with her on the way to class, a boyfriend who would one day become her fiancé and a dad who never let FA become the focus of her life.

Mary explains FA as a disease that impacts her coordination, speech, and balance—on the outside, it can resemble someone who’s had too much to drink. Inside, though, it’s her nerves struggling to communicate with the muscles in every part of her body. By her early 20s, she had a full spinal fusion, and today she relies on regular cardiology visits and twice-weekly physical therapy to maintain her strength.

“There’s no cure,” she said, but her fiancé and her dad remain her “rocks.” “I’ve been so lucky,” she added.

Though FA is part of Mary’s life, it doesn’t define her. Instead, she’s found purpose through her work with the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA). As a volunteer ambassador, she helped create monthly virtual gatherings for FA warriors across the globe—many of whom had never met someone else with the same diagnosis.

“Today, they have hundreds of new friends,” Mary shared. It’s the kind of connection that changes lives, reminding others that they’re not alone.

All of that advocating and relationship-building can be exhausting. And when fatigue is a daily battle, a good night’s sleep can feel like an unattainable dream. For Mary, that’s where Chive Charities stepped in.

“Fatigue is a major issue with FA,” she explains. “A good mattress is the first key to a good night’s sleep, and unfortunately, I didn’t have one. Since I can’t work, I’d never be able to get one myself.”

Thanks to Chive Charities’ donors, Mary received an adjustable bed and mattress for a total of $4,686—and the impact was immediate.

“I got it three days ago,” she told us. “It’s life-changing. It helps with fatigue, back pain, circulation, and sleep apnea.”

It’s hard to put a price on quality sleep, but for Mary, it’s priceless. It’s more energy to tackle her physical therapy, to spend time with her fiancé and Finn, to build dollhouses, and to continue being a strong ambassador for the FA community.

When we asked Mary how she found Chive Charities, she said she first discovered us on a page for financial aid. “I had never heard of it,” she admits, “but you all deserve more recognition.”

Her words to supporters like you come from the heart: “Thank you, thank you. My heartfelt thanks to all of you donors!”

At Chive Charities, stories like Mary’s remind us that even small gestures—like providing a much-needed bed—can create an immeasurable impact. For someone like Mary, a rare disease doesn’t stop her from finding joy in literature, creativity, and advocacy. It doesn’t stop her from living a full and meaningful life.

But she’s able to do that because people like you choose to care.

Mary’s story isn’t just about an adjustable bed. It’s about dignity. It’s about resilience. And it’s about the kindness of strangers who choose to say, I want to help.

If Mary’s story inspired you, imagine how many other lives you could change. Join Chive Charities’ incredible donor family today and be part of the movement to make the world 10% happier.

Because sometimes, the simplest gifts—like a good night’s sleep—can mean everything. But don’t take it from us…just ask Mary and the more than 600 recipients whose lives you changed for a decade and counting. DONATE HERE.