Support Catherine's Journey Through Cancer Treatment

My name is Lorie Martin-Massink and I am raising funds to support my wife Catherine Martin-Massink. Back in March, two days before Catherine’s 48th birthday the doctors confirmed that her self-discovered lump was indeed breast cancer. Over Spring Break we listened as our new UNC medical team rolled out the plan for Catherine’s HER-2+ cancer treatment triathlon (chemo infusions, surgery(s), and radiation). While reeling from the diagnosis, Catherine and I set our sights on getting her through the initial stages of treatment and shepherding our family of 7 to the end of the school year. Our oldest Kace was now driving independently, Eli, Rowan, and Georgia were deciding on high schools as they wrapped up 8th grade, and Ezra loved having one year of middle school under his belt.

During the initial treatment phase we were trying to balance working, parenting five pre/teens, and wrapping up the school year. It was such a hard time for our family and I am so-so grateful for the food which family and community provided to get us to summer break. The children have loved eating meals that did not originate from me (lol). And each meal or Instacart order was such a blessing to me personally because it reminded me that I had asked for and received help. And it has meant a lot to Catherine that she is able to “make her own grocery runs” using Instacart to get nutritional and medical items as unexpected needs arise. Our family thanks each of you who supported us in this spring.

Catherine and I both work in schools so the summer off has been a major blessing in managing her healthcare needs. Summer ‘24 has been a time to ‘stay the course’. With many of Catherine’s summer days upended with miserable side effects, we have focused on capturing days when she feels well enough to enjoy herself a bit. I appreciate the kids' support systems that have maintained a sense of normalcy for them with travel and summer fun. Later this month Catherine will have her 6th round of infusions, finishing the 1st leg of her treatment.

Over the next few weeks the kids will start their fall transition back to school, fall sports, and friends. Our oldest is applying to college. I will begin my 26th year as a public school educator. And Catherine will prepare for the 2nd leg of her cancer treatment. At this point we only know it will entail surgery followed by radiation. We aren’t sure how or when Catherine will return to work.

It is with this uncertainty that I reach out once again for help. The bills are snow-balling. As soon as Catherine was diagnosed, our family felt the financial impact. Catherine’s doctors immediately advised her to halt her financial side-hustles (officiating high school and college sports). The chemo side effects necessitated a costly home repair (turns out that Chemo makes it harder to sleep without air conditioning, which we had been doing for 18 months). And the medical bills….

Catherine and I have had so many people ask how to help and after deep discussion and wrestling with emotions, this is our ask: Please consider financially contributing to the bills our family has incurred as a result of Catherine’s Cancer diagnosis with a goal to raise $28,000. We have not qualified for financial support from the hospital but are reapplying. Your support will help with the unanticipated financial burdens cancer has brought and alleviate a bit of the incredible emotional stress our family is experiencing right now. We know this “cancer journey” will last a decade or more but our minds can only rise to this next season. We feel so loved and supported by our communities.

UPDATE: Catherine will have surgery (lumpectomy) Tuesday August 20th. She will continue receiving Chemo injections every 3 weeks until April 2025 for the HER+ cancer treatment. It is her goal to return to work one month post surgery. We really appreciate your support.