Help the Martinez Family with Medical Bills

Summer has been my best friend for almost 30 years and her and her family are going through a difficult time right now and need help with their medical bills. Please consider helping the Martinez family.

In 2021 Summer noticed a bump on her right ankle. Her and her husband said things like "Maybe it's a leftover tear from walking the Camino de Santiago," or "maybe it's a cyst... or a tumor." A trip to the doctor was inconclusive but they knew they would have to find out more about it.

Soon after the visit, Summer became pregnant with Miguel, started a new job running a home for survivors of sex trafficking, and started a Master's program in counseling. They also bought a house and began preparing for parenthood.

Miguel came, followed 19 months after by Josephine. The bump grew, slowly, but with Summer's pregancies and breastfeeding they chose not to risk any surgeries, chemo, etc. until their little family could take it.

In November 2024, the Holy Spirit spoke to Summer at Mass. "It's time to get that checked," He said. Several tests and doctors later, Summer learned that she likely had a tumor on the tendon sheath in her lower right leg.

On February 18th, 2025, Summer had a surgery to remove the bump. The surgery went well, but for the next three weeks Summer couldn't put any weight on her leg, drastically limiting how much she could care for Miguel and Josephine. In that time she received a new diagnosis: she had a malignant tumor of her peripheral nerve sheath.

This kind of tumor is very rare and in this particular case, not all of it could be removed during the surgery (though much of it was) without also amputating her foot. It has a chance of reoccuring (15-20% chance) and also metasticizing. If it metastisizes, the prognosis is bad. However, Summer's oncologist, surgeon, and radiologist agree that this tumor is "very treatable" by radiation.

Now, Summer is looking at radiation treatments 5 times per week for 6 weeks. After that, she'll have periodic CT and MRI scans to see if the cancer has spread anywhere else. Again, if it re occurs or spreads, it could mean amputation or more.