Popular DJ Gets Second Chance At Life

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Less than a year ago, popular Mix 106.5 radio personality Maria Dennis got the shock of her life: she had leukemia. Now she's getting a second chance at life.

Linh Bui has Dennis' emotional story---and her message for others.

Maria Dennis feels lucky to be alive.

"They gave me a 50% chance of making it," she said.

Last March, when she was having bad stomachaches, routine tests turned her life upside down. The CBS radio morning show host---whose voice is known across Maryland---heard a word that everybody dreads.

"I said, `Leukemia? How is that possible?'" Dennis said.

In that second, everything changed for the wife and mother of two young boys.

"They immediately gave me morphine because I started to flip out and plus the pain was so bad," described Dennis.

She immediately began treatment at Johns Hopkins Hospital. After four rounds of intense chemotherapy, she was put on a list for a bone marrow transplant. In June, Dennis' prayers were answered.

"I just can't imagine someone going through a surgery for a stranger and giving their bone marrow and saving someone's life," Dennis said.

She hasn't decided what she'll say to the donor.

"I don't know yet. In between tears and gratitude and just thanks---I don't know what I'll say. My children thank that person from the bottom of their hearts. They saved their mom's life," she said.

She says she always expected to survive.

"I never thought I wasn't going to make it. Believe me, there were times where I was very depressed, but you've got to snap out of it. You've got to move on, you've got to pull yourself up and fight like a girl. That's what I did."

Through all the pain and suffering and heartache, Dennis beat cancer.

"I got an email from my doc. He's like, `Congratulations. No signs of leukemia, cancer-free.' It was wonderful," she said.

She believes her battle with leukemia has reminded her what's really important in life and she hopes her message reaches others going through the same thing.

"I always was thankful for things in my life and my family and now I am thankful for every minute of every day. I relish spending time with my kids, my husband and my family. I drink it in as if it were the last time," Dennis said.

Dennis will continue to take chemo pills every day. She says she got through this challenging year with the support of all her loyal listeners.