Hope in Gray

It’s been a heavy few days for so many of our families; especially a few with the youngest fighters. As you settle in for the night, please keep these families in your prayers. Prayers for healthy counts, more options from doctors, guidance on having heavy conversations, more time, and miracles. 🩶

Awareness and support does not stop in May. It’s every day. Unfortunately, they don’t seem as rare as they are said to be. This is the reason why we must educate ourselves and others about the resources available, and support those families navigating this challenging journey. At Hope in Gray, we stand with all our families putting one foot in front of the other every single day on this path 🩶

Today is National Cancer Survivors Day, and at Hope in Gray, we are honored to celebrate the incredible strength of those living with and beyond a brain cancer diagnosis.

Being a survivor doesn't always look the same. It can mean finishing treatment, navigating ongoing treatments, celebrating milestones, overcoming setbacks, or simply choosing hope each day.

To all of the survivors in our community; we see you, we admire your courage, and we are grateful for the inspiration you provide to so many.

Your journey is a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of never giving up.
Today, we celebrate you.

Tag a survivor in the comments and help us recognize the warriors who continue to fight, inspire, and show us what strength truly looks like.

Living with a meningioma brain tumor can bring ongoing physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges, especially when full resection is not possible.

Join this free webinar on Tuesday, June 9 at 3 p.m. ET. The session will cover what residual or recurring meningioma can mean for long-term care, practical strategies for managing lasting effects, and supportive resources for patients and caregivers.

Register for free: https://give.abta.org/event/abta-webinar-thriving-with-meningioma-brain-tumors/e773677

🎗 Warrior Wednesday 🎗

Today we honor Marshall James William Hatch.

Marshall’s journey with Glioblastoma began in early August 2024 after symptoms appeared with no clear cause. After testing, he received the diagnosis of Grade 4 Glioblastoma. At the end of August, he underwent brain surgery where 40–50% of the tumor was removed, followed by radiation and chemotherapy. Even through setbacks, swelling, and signs of progression, Marshall continued to show up with strength, hope, and determination, leaning on his family and friends every step of the way.

In May 2026, after a nearly two-year battle, Marshall passed away peacefully.
Marshall spent more than 40 years in Denver, Colorado, building a life rooted in friendship, laughter, and service. His career in the food and beverage industry reflected who he was—warm, welcoming, and someone who truly never met a stranger for long. He had a gift for making people feel seen, heard, and cared for.
He will be remembered as a loving brother, uncle, and friend whose humor and kindness left a lasting mark on everyone who knew him.

Marshall, your story matters. Your impact continues. And your spirit will always be part of this community 🩶

Motivational Monday

One of the hardest lessons this journey teaches is that hope and heartbreak can exist at the same time.

This past month, our community experienced loss. We also watched others face setbacks, hospital stays, and challenges that no family should have to endure.

Yet even in the midst of those difficult moments, we continue to see something remarkable: people showing up for one another.

We see caregivers giving their all.
Friends checking in.
Families refusing to give up. Communities coming together to lift each other up when the weight feels too heavy to carry alone.

Being positive doesn't mean ignoring the hard days. It means choosing to look for the light, even when the darkness feels overwhelming.
It means finding gratitude in the moments we have, celebrating the victories—big or small—and continuing to move forward with purpose.

Today, if you're struggling, know that it's okay to carry both hope and grief. Both can exist together. And through it all, you don't have to walk this journey alone.

Keep hoping.
Keep loving.
Keep showing up for one another.

That's where strength is found 🩶

🦸‍♀️ Superhero Saturday 🦸‍♀️

Today, we'd like to recognize someone whose kindness, compassion, and dedication remind us that superheroes don't always wear capes.

Melanie has stepped up to help care for Frank during one of the most difficult chapters of his life. Although they have been divorced for many years, she has remained a constant source of support as he navigates the challenges of living with brain cancer.

While caring for a loved one is never easy, Melanie has gone above and beyond. Even living in Maryland, she continues to do everything she can to help, offering her time, energy, and unwavering care from afar.
Caregivers come in many forms, and sometimes they are the people who choose to show up simply because they care. Melanie's selflessness is a beautiful reminder that compassion, friendship, and love don't always fit into traditional definitions.

Thank you, Melanie, for being one of the many everyday superheroes in our brain cancer community. Your support means more than words can express.

🎗Fact Friday🎗

Did you know that the blood-brain barrier is a protective layer designed to keep harmful substances out of the brain — is also one of the biggest reasons brain tumor treatment is so difficult.

Many chemotherapy drugs that work well in other cancers simply cannot cross into the brain in effective amounts, limiting how aggressively tumors can be treated.

So even when treatments exist, getting them to the tumor itself is often the real challenge.

As May comes to an end, this is one of the quieter truths behind brain cancer; it’s not just about finding treatments… it’s about getting them where they need to go.

Grateful for the village that shows up for our families at the drop of a dime.

Big shoutout to Meghan at The Feral Flour Kitchen for prepping dinner for one of our families that had an unexpected turn of events this weekend. She put together a meal and tossed in some homemade focaccia bread and a sourdough loaf. Be sure to check out her page for all her goodies 🩶

🦸‍♀️ Super Hero Saturday 🦸‍♀️

This week, we’re shining a light on a true superhero — Caitlyn

On September 1, 2025, Caitlyn's life changed in an instant with a diagnosis of Grade 4 Glioblastoma. Since that day, her journey has included 4 brain surgeries, a brain infection that resulted in a metal plate replacing part of her skull, 6 immunotherapy infusions, 36 rounds of radiation, and 67 doses of chemotherapy... and counting.
But Caitlyn's story is so much bigger than treatments and procedures.
Brain cancer has changed her, but not in the way many would expect. Through unimaginable challenges, she has become stronger, softer, more present, more thankful, and deeply grounded in faith. She’s learned to say “yes” more often, treasure every moment with her beautiful son, listen to her body when it needs rest, and embrace each day as a gift.
Like so many warriors, Caitlyn faces uncertainty and fear. But she continues showing up with courage and grace, choosing to share both the beautiful moments and the difficult ones in hopes of helping others, spreading awareness, and supporting fellow patients and caregivers along the way.

They say superheroes wear capes, but sometimes they wear hospital bracelets, carry scars, and fight battles most people never see.

Welcome to the “Caitlyn Beats Cancer” era… we’ll be cheering her on every step of the way. 🩶