Meghan Patricia McGrady,
August 1st, 1985 – October 22nd ,2007.
Meghan’s story…..

I was born in Teaneck, NJ, on 8/1/85. At the age of 2 1/2 we went to live with my mothers parents. Two weeks later my brother, Dan, was born. My parents got divorced when I was 7. My brother & I attended Honis Elementary School & Dumont High School. I then attended Rutgers University in New Brunswick. While attending Rutgers, I was on the Dean’s List several times, I was on the Executive Board of RHA for 3 years. All 4 years of college I was a fundraiser & did volunteer work for Children with Cancer and Blood Disorders. Then in Jr. Year I joined Alpha Chi Omega and by senior year I was the Vice President of Risk Management. I was accepted at Rutgers Graduate School of Education for my Masters in Education, my future was bright. I had been a substitute teacher for the Cresskill Board of Ed. for 3 years, a job that I really enjoyed. I was a happy Rutgers senior, finishing up with college, hanging out with my sorority sisters, roommates, and my brother, who followed me to Rutgers. I was looking forward to my college graduation and starting Rutgers Graduate School of Education in September. That’s when our nightmare began…..
In the end of February, they found a growth in Meghan’s left ovary. In March, we went to see a gynecological ecologist, who thought that since Meghan was only 21, it probably was not cancer. The recover time for the debulking surgery would be 6 weeks, there was no way she could have the operation and get back to Rutgers to take her finals and graduate. The doctor said that 3 weeks would not make a difference, he gave Meghan 3 weeks to finish up school and take all her finals so that she would be able to graduate. Meghan’s operation was scheduled for April 23rd. She finished school in 2 1/2 weeks with a 3.7 GPA. A few days before the surgery we got the results of some blood tests and found out that Meghan had ovarian cancer. On May 17, 2007, Meghan’s wish came true and she was able to walk to the podium, in a great deal of pain, to receive her diploma. Meghan spent most of her last 6 months in Memorial Sloan-Kettering hospital. Meghan passed away on October 22, 2007, 1 day short of 6 months from her first surgery, she was only 22 years old. Her life had just begun. Her family & friends where at her side as my angel went to heaven.

Right before Meghan passed away she was preparing to go to colleges and speak at Sororities to spread the word about ovarian cancer and that nobody is too young.