This week we received some very sad news from the world of reality TV.
Former TLC reality star Mary Schumacher, who is often referred to as “Mom,” has been placed in hospice care as her battle with cancer continues, according to the cable network personality’s daughter-in-law, Rebecca Schumacher.
Mary Schumacher sits here for a confessional on Breaking Amish. (TLC)
Rebecca shared a photo of Mary on Instagram on Wednesday, Nov. 13, pleading with Breaking Amish fans…to wish them well, while also providing a disappointing update on Mary’s health.
“Praying for you mom,” Rebecca wrote in the caption at the time.
“She hasn’t been feeling well for the last few weeks, can’t keep anything down and is having trouble eating. She’s in hospice right now. Her pain is so bad that they’re trying to help her with it. I’m giving it to you.
“If you can, please send her lots of positive messages and pray that she is comfortable and pain-free. Thank you.”
Schumacher appeared in both Breaking Amish and Return to the Amish with his son Abe and daughter-in-law Rebecca.
She was initially a recurring cast member, but became such a big fan favorite that she remained on the show after Abe and Rebecca’s departure.
Therefore, many sad comments were left on Rebecca’s Instagram photos and related statements this week.
“Stay strong! I’m holding you in the light and wishing you a speedy recovery,” one follower wrote, while another added:
“Stay strong. The world is praying for you. We love you.”
Mary Schumacher quickly became a fan favorite on Breaking Amish. (TLC)
On March 10, 2022, Mary confirmed that she would be leaving Breaking Amish after several seasons.
“I’m not going back to TV, but a lot of other people have been. I’d like to go back to TV, but there are too many problems for me to do,” the Pennsylvania native said at the time.
“I want to go back, but I’m coming back the way I am now. I want to tell the story so people know what happened after the show, where we are now, and what happened to us.” I think it needs to be made, but they don’t want to do it.”
A month later, Mary announced that she was scheduled to undergo surgery for colon cancer.
The surgery appeared to go well, but as Schumacher noted in the summer of 2022, Mary’s condition later deteriorated.
“When I had the surgery, they said all the cancer was gone. Two weeks later they called me and said, ‘You have to come right away,'” Mary said after about two years. I wrote this on Facebook a half hour ago.
“Now they say I have stage 3 cancer and almost stage 4. Chemotherapy doesn’t help in stage 4. So why do I have to do chemotherapy? But I… I don’t just take their word for it. I’m going to get a second opinion.”
While we cannot say exactly what the outcome of that second opinion was, we will continue to pray for Mary Schumacher and her loved ones.
