Article written by Karen Lyddane. Photo given by Lynn Magrum.
Lynn Magrum lived where she was born, in Buffalo, New York, until she was 23. Youth was filled by her large Italian family that expected her to help others. This translated into finding just the right career, and she found it. Nursing school was where she belonged. Oncology and Hospice strongly held Lynn’s heart, where they reside today. In Oncology she could make a difference in her patient’s journey, by managing their physical and mental stresses. After writing her own memoirs, she taught a memoir writing class at Life with Cancer, sharing them with her patients. She taught cancer survivors how to write their own.
A creative touch to motherhood was in naming her daughter. Lynn and Charlie combined the two names of Alissa’s grandmothers, Alice and Teresa, and her daughter became “Alissa.” The name is heard often today, spelled differently, but was not common at all back then.
Achieving her bachelor’s and master’s degrees was challenging, to say the least! Her children were just two and 4 when she determinedly worked through challenges for success. Her husband, Charlie, would come home from work, they’d have a short conversation about their children, then off she would go off to class at George Mason University from 7-10 p.m. until Eric and Alissa were old enough to go to GMU’s childcare center. So, her degree was a long process-she went back for her Nurse Practitioner degree when Eric and Alissa were in college. Her career of 59 years was in nursing, with 29 years as a Nurse Practitioner. She worked for a time at Rosswell Park Cancer Institute.
Later in life, Lynn found herself living alone in her 3,000 square foot house. She had a different lifestyle, and didn’t need the responsibilities of it and the large yard. Charlie, her husband, was declining in his health, which forced the decision to move him where he could have increased support as needed.<
Lynn during her nursing career worked at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Schar Cancer Center, Capital Caring Hospice and palliative care and in a private oncology practice.
In 2024, Lynn made another decision-to move into The Woodlands. This freed her up to pursue her goals-she feels that her experience and education are not ready to sit on the shelf!
Lynn has had adventures in hang-gliding and parasailing. Alissa talked her into becoming a triathlete. Lynn did a ½ marathon first, then a triathlon of swimming, biking, and running. Today, Lynn enjoys golfing, walking, leading hikes at Wintergreen and being in Nature. Lynn is in two book clubs, a prayer group, plays Mahjong, and sets one day aside every week to volunteer at Mother of Mercy clinic in Manassas, Virginia. She helps people in need of medical services who are uninsured.
Lynn credits her biggest accomplishment in life to teaching Eric and Alessa the importance of giving to others. Goals are to be Charlie’s advocate and maintain his best quality of life. An equally important goal is to not let people forget her grandson, Zachary, who died at seven years of Downs Syndrome. She and her family and friends are helping students with Downs Syndrome achieve their higher education dreams, through “Ruby’s Rainbows” scholarship foundation. In supporting this organization, Lynn supports her own heart! She has a faith that supports every day of her life, and trusts that she is given the wisdom to make the right decisions.
From Lynn: “Don’t wait to do what brings you joy and fulfillment.” “Live life to the fullest!”
