$63,387 raised
·822 donations
Hallie Savage-Martinez and family
Donation protected
UPDATED POST
As many of you know, Hallie Savage Martinez has been living with stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma (a terminal, rare, aggressive, metastasized form of bile duct cancer) for a little over a year now. Her first oncologist told her that she would die in less than a year. Last summer she underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy with intense, debilitating side effects. Since then she has been on a targeted gene therapy. This treatment has drastically improved Hallie’s quality of life.
Even though the gene therapy has worked well so far, the clock is ticking. The gene therapy has stopped the tumors from growing larger but it may not work forever. Only 17% of respondents in the FDA study of this drug had it produce a response for at least 12 months. The trend was that the longer it was used, the percentage of patients for which it still worked decreased. There is no data beyond 12 months, and Hallie is about to hit the 12 month mark.
Hallie is grateful for her team at UW hospital, especially her oncologist Dr. LoConte. Hallie’s medical team recognize that this treatment is at the upper limit of their expertise and they do not have any more options to offer her.
In order to get care tailored to her type of cancer, her doctors recommend that she pursue a second opinion at MD Anderson Cancer Hospital, in Houston, Texas. It is the top bile duct cancer treatment hospital in the U.S., with cutting-edge research and clinical trials available nowhere else. Unfortunately, the MD Anderson Cancer Hospital is out of network for Hallie’s health insurance plan. In order to get a second opinion - which may vitally inform the course of her treatment - she needs to pay $16,678.00
Hallie is a strong patient advocate for herself and has poured her energy into “thriving with cancer” this past year. Your outpouring of encouragement and love has really inspired her to keep going. With our support, Hallie has the opportunity to defy the odds yet again. Please consider donating so that Hallie can move forward with this second opinion. Ideally, we would like to see if we can reach enough people to have small donations help reach the goal. Please consider helping to post this GoFundMe anywhere you think that we might be able to garner support. In an effort to pay your generosity forward, Hallie will continue to offer donation-based yoga classes beginning again in September, and then will donate those funds to families in need. She has been to support several families in this way over the summer.
Thank you for your consideration and love!
Follow her CaringBridge page and her instagram account for updates.
Photos:
Her first oncologist said that she would not survive to see her son start 4-K. Here is Francisco, Hallie and Pahli on the first day of 4-K.
The family recently welcomed a new rescue puppy named Charlie.
Hallie completed her yoga teacher certification! This is a picture of her leading a class on her “graduation” day.
Hallie is planning on returning to her position at MMSD this fall.
A message from Hallie: “I find myself moving into a new cancer phase, and it includes a lot of emotions that I must have buried at the beginning but are all coming out now. I can’t say how much I appreciate the never-ending support and encouragement that you all continue to share with me. It is very odd to be running a marathon without an end in sight, and I am beginning to realize the exhaustion in knowing that rest breaks don’t currently include the nearing of a finish line. While that is great in some ways, actually, because I don’t want death to be my finish line, it is also tiring because I could just go on like this forever, or I could just go into spontaneous remission - anything and everything is on the table until it isn’t. So, thank you so much for remembering that even though I feel better and look better, my need for support and encouragement is still there, though invisible it may be. I truly, truly believe that I would not be here today had it not been for the huge outpouring of love, little messages and texts, phone calls, spontaneous drop-ins at our house and all of the other ways you have all shown love, support and encouragement. Thank you for being friends with my cancer diagnosis. It has shaped the way I view my place on Earth, and I pull daily from the love net you have collectively cast”
ORIGINAL POST
If you know Hallie Savage Martinez, you know a bright, energetic, loving and compassionate individual. She's someone who would do absolutely anything to help a fellow person in need. Hallie was recently diagnosed with stage 4 cancer (stomach, liver and lung). Unfortunately, there is no cure, her cancer is inoperable, and she will need chemotherapy in an attempt to prolong her life. This comes to Hallie and her family as a complete shock, for someone so young and full of life to be told their life is now so fragile. A Caring Bridge site will be set up in the near future, inviting friends and family to follow Hallie's medical journey.
Because of her medical situation, Hallie will not be able to work, causing financial stress on the family. She works as an educator in the Madison Metropolitan School District, supporting students and families in the Dual Language Immersion Program. In addition, Hallie, Francisco and Pahli are about to close on a new home and plan to move at the end of June. While this is an exciting time, it is also a financial burden. Moving is a symbol of hope for Hallie and something to look forward to.
Your support would help provide financial assistance to help cover any lost wages, medical bills, moving expenses, and any other financial obligations that arise during this time. Please consider donating to this amazing family to help in any way you can. A meal/food train is in the process of being developed and will be posted soon.
Thank you for your consideration and love!
xoxo
Hallie with her beautiful family (son- Pahli & husband- Francisco)
Hallie with her son, Pahli.
As many of you know, Hallie Savage Martinez has been living with stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma (a terminal, rare, aggressive, metastasized form of bile duct cancer) for a little over a year now. Her first oncologist told her that she would die in less than a year. Last summer she underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy with intense, debilitating side effects. Since then she has been on a targeted gene therapy. This treatment has drastically improved Hallie’s quality of life.
Even though the gene therapy has worked well so far, the clock is ticking. The gene therapy has stopped the tumors from growing larger but it may not work forever. Only 17% of respondents in the FDA study of this drug had it produce a response for at least 12 months. The trend was that the longer it was used, the percentage of patients for which it still worked decreased. There is no data beyond 12 months, and Hallie is about to hit the 12 month mark.
Hallie is grateful for her team at UW hospital, especially her oncologist Dr. LoConte. Hallie’s medical team recognize that this treatment is at the upper limit of their expertise and they do not have any more options to offer her.
In order to get care tailored to her type of cancer, her doctors recommend that she pursue a second opinion at MD Anderson Cancer Hospital, in Houston, Texas. It is the top bile duct cancer treatment hospital in the U.S., with cutting-edge research and clinical trials available nowhere else. Unfortunately, the MD Anderson Cancer Hospital is out of network for Hallie’s health insurance plan. In order to get a second opinion - which may vitally inform the course of her treatment - she needs to pay $16,678.00
Hallie is a strong patient advocate for herself and has poured her energy into “thriving with cancer” this past year. Your outpouring of encouragement and love has really inspired her to keep going. With our support, Hallie has the opportunity to defy the odds yet again. Please consider donating so that Hallie can move forward with this second opinion. Ideally, we would like to see if we can reach enough people to have small donations help reach the goal. Please consider helping to post this GoFundMe anywhere you think that we might be able to garner support. In an effort to pay your generosity forward, Hallie will continue to offer donation-based yoga classes beginning again in September, and then will donate those funds to families in need. She has been to support several families in this way over the summer.
Thank you for your consideration and love!
Follow her CaringBridge page and her instagram account for updates.
Photos:
Her first oncologist said that she would not survive to see her son start 4-K. Here is Francisco, Hallie and Pahli on the first day of 4-K.
The family recently welcomed a new rescue puppy named Charlie.
Hallie completed her yoga teacher certification! This is a picture of her leading a class on her “graduation” day.
Hallie is planning on returning to her position at MMSD this fall.
A message from Hallie: “I find myself moving into a new cancer phase, and it includes a lot of emotions that I must have buried at the beginning but are all coming out now. I can’t say how much I appreciate the never-ending support and encouragement that you all continue to share with me. It is very odd to be running a marathon without an end in sight, and I am beginning to realize the exhaustion in knowing that rest breaks don’t currently include the nearing of a finish line. While that is great in some ways, actually, because I don’t want death to be my finish line, it is also tiring because I could just go on like this forever, or I could just go into spontaneous remission - anything and everything is on the table until it isn’t. So, thank you so much for remembering that even though I feel better and look better, my need for support and encouragement is still there, though invisible it may be. I truly, truly believe that I would not be here today had it not been for the huge outpouring of love, little messages and texts, phone calls, spontaneous drop-ins at our house and all of the other ways you have all shown love, support and encouragement. Thank you for being friends with my cancer diagnosis. It has shaped the way I view my place on Earth, and I pull daily from the love net you have collectively cast”
ORIGINAL POST
If you know Hallie Savage Martinez, you know a bright, energetic, loving and compassionate individual. She's someone who would do absolutely anything to help a fellow person in need. Hallie was recently diagnosed with stage 4 cancer (stomach, liver and lung). Unfortunately, there is no cure, her cancer is inoperable, and she will need chemotherapy in an attempt to prolong her life. This comes to Hallie and her family as a complete shock, for someone so young and full of life to be told their life is now so fragile. A Caring Bridge site will be set up in the near future, inviting friends and family to follow Hallie's medical journey.
Because of her medical situation, Hallie will not be able to work, causing financial stress on the family. She works as an educator in the Madison Metropolitan School District, supporting students and families in the Dual Language Immersion Program. In addition, Hallie, Francisco and Pahli are about to close on a new home and plan to move at the end of June. While this is an exciting time, it is also a financial burden. Moving is a symbol of hope for Hallie and something to look forward to.
Your support would help provide financial assistance to help cover any lost wages, medical bills, moving expenses, and any other financial obligations that arise during this time. Please consider donating to this amazing family to help in any way you can. A meal/food train is in the process of being developed and will be posted soon.
Thank you for your consideration and love!
xoxo
Hallie with her beautiful family (son- Pahli & husband- Francisco)Hallie with her son, Pahli.Donations
Co-organizers (2)
Nicky Najacht
Organizer
Madison, WI
Daniel Savage
Beneficiary
Mary Anne Watson
Co-organizer