Night of music to raise money for scholarship

HAMILTON — Music has been written to celebrate the name Mary for eons, from "Ave Maria" to the Creedence Clearwater Revival hit "Proud Mary," which seems to be in the repertoire of every dance band in the world.

There will be more music for Mary this Saturday, and though its genesis was pain, it is really meant to celebrate a life that was far too short.

Twelve years ago this month, Nancy Thompson gave birth to Mary Lois, the second child for her and her husband, Roger.

Although she had Down syndrome, Mary was otherwise healthy, and unlike many children with the disease she would go on to have very few other medical issues. She was able to function well and proceeded at a pace similar to other kids her age.

"She fit right in with all her buddies right from the beginning," her mother said.

Two years ago, Mary was a fifth-grader at Cutler School, where she needed extra help with reading but was otherwise a part of her class. She did have a bit of a stubborn streak, however, her sister, Brenna, now 11, said.

She loved recess, and if she thought it was ending too soon, she'd climb to the top of the slide and older brother Ian, 14 now, would be called to coax her down.

Following a family weekend outing in October 2005, Mary complained of a headache but was well enough to go to school. She had a stomachache after lunch Thursday, so her mother took her to the doctor.

"He thought it was a stomach bug," Thompson said, and indeed, when they got home, Mary seemed OK, although she still had a bit of a temperature.

Friday, her fever was "way up," Thompson said, but the doctor stuck to the original diagnosis. But early Saturday morning, she was in the emergency room at Beverly Hospital. Mary was dehydrated and needed intravenous fluid injections, and her condition spiraled downward rapidly.

At 6 a.m., she was in respiratory arrest and 30 minutes later cardiac arrest. She was flown to Children's Hospital Boston but died at 8:30 a.m. The cause of death was a strep infection in her bloodstream, Thompson said.

As what would have been Mary's 11th birthday approached on March 16, 2006, her family cast about for something to memorialize her. They hit on an evening of music as a fundraiser, because Mary loved music, and her father is in a rock band called Mid-Life Crisis.

The first year, it was held at the Community House in Hamilton, where it drew about 250 people and raised about $8,000. The money was used to set up a scholarship fund for a Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School student. The $1,500 scholarship doesn't have to go to someone who plans to major in music, but applicants must have some interest in music.

The second year, the event was moved to Woodman's in Essex, and 300 people showed up. The scholarship fund is up to $20,000, and Thompson said the family plans to continue the fundraising, "forever and ever and ever."

Ordinarily, this would have been a happy time of the year for Mary, who was an avid Red Sox fan.

"She cheered for anyone who hit a home run," Thompson said with a chuckle. "Even if it was a Yankee."

r What: An evening of music by Mid-Life Crisis and The Occasional Seven. Raffles, T-shirts, hats and bracelets. Cash bar.

r Tickets: $25 per person. For tickets or more information, call Nancy Thompson 978-468-3595 or e-mail her at nanrog@comcast.net.

r To donate: If you cannot attend but would like to contribute, donations can be made to the Mary Lois Thompson Scholarship Fund, c/o Salem Five, 2 Bay Road, Hamilton, MA 01982.

Photos

Nancy Thompson, center, has started a scholarship fund for a high school senior in honor of her daughter, Mary, who died at the age of 10 two years ago. Thompson; her two children, Ian, 14, and Brenna, 11; and other family members hold a yearly fundraiser called Music for Mary. Staff photo

Nancy Thompson holds a picture of her daughter, Mary. Staff photo