On 1/4/2010 Fannie Mae Downs was diagnosed with breast cancer and noone is sure how long she probably had it, because she never complained about it. In May of 2010 after she had turned 102 years old she had surgery on her leg after she fell. Fannie Mae's doctor was impressed with how smooth her bone was and how he was able to screw into her bone. Many women younger than her have brittle bones and make surgery difficult. Fannie Mae refused to use a cane as long as she lived and continued to come to worship and Bible Study until she was homebound. But even from her home she listened to the sermons each week that were recorded.