Kelly’s story:
My husband and I met in the summer of 2019 when we were both students at a ceramics workshop in Maine. We were both in the midst of life transitions and spent late nights alone in the library talking about our dreams and the changes we were navigating in life. I just had a final round interview for a teaching job in the town where my nephews live and also found out that I had a clear PET scan 1 year after having thyroid cancer. At the end of our workshop, he asked me to go to Portland with him but I had just found out that I got the job and needed to get home. We dated long distance for a year, getting to know each other through old fashioned love letters and romantic weekend visits. He moved across the country to start our lives together and we were married shortly after but due to the pandemic, we put off a honeymoon and each year we talk about returning to the place we met but haven’t done so yet.
In June of 2025, I received a very unexpected second cancer diagnosis; Stage IVB Non Small Cell Lung Cancer EFGR+ with Mets to the bone, eye and brain. I was just 44 years old. Recently my first line treatment has failed and my cancer is progressing. I have started a new course of chemotherapy and radiation and am awaiting new immunotherapy drugs for my specific mutation to become available in the US. My husband has been with me through every step of the way, showing me everlasting love and unwavering faith.
While we face an uncertain future, we don’t wait to celebrate our love and my wish is for a 5-7 day trip to Maine with my husband this summer so we can finally have our honeymoon. We would celebrate our seventh anniversary by visiting the magical place that we met and taking the trip to Portland that we never got to take. We would spend a few days in Bar Harbor relaxing together in the tranquility of nature and a few days in Portland viewing art at local museums and galleries, eating good food and enjoying good conversation as we make new memories together.
Kelly’s wish has been granted! Stella’s Wish Foundation is helping them to travel the Maine coastline by car for 10 days and visit Bar Harbor.
Dear Stella’s Wish Foundation,
Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity in the granting of my wish. My husband Donté and are on our anniversary trip/belated honeymoon back to Maine where we first met. We drove up and made stops at different art museums along the way. We are enjoying the beauty of the nature and art surrounding us and most importantly the time we are spending with each other. We feel very blessed to have this opportunity and grateful that you created this organization to honor your beloved Stella.
With gratitude, Wish #416
Kelly Murphy