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September is childhood cancer awareness month and the 19 month old daughter of Andi and JP Martinez, Jaxyn Lou, was recently diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer known as Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH). This type of cancer effects 1 in 200000 children and has widely varying symptoms.
Andi, an emergency room nurse, first noticed a faint rash on Jaxyn’s back and behind her ear when she was 3 months old. LCH is so rare it is often misdiagnosed as a more common skin rash such as eczema. Andi knew in her core that there was something wrong. She continued to push for answers. Over a year later after biopsies, skeletal x-rays, blood tests, and a PET scan little Jaxyn was finally diagnosed with LCH. In that time the disease has spread to the bones in her head, neck and pelvis. There is also concern for lymph node involvement. Despite feeling overwhelmed and heartbroken as a family they are relieved to finally have a diagnosis that they can begin to fight.
Tonight Jaxyn is at The University of New Mexico Children’s Hospital. She will have surgery in the morning to place a port and start a five day course of strong chemotherapy. She will then continue to have weeklong courses of chemotherapy once a month for the next year at least. They will repeat a PET scan at 2 months to see if the tumors are responding.
Jaxyn’s father JP Martinez has served as a firefighter in both Albuquerque and Rio Rancho and currently works in air medical transport. Andi Martinez is an emergency room nurse at Sandoval Regional Medical Center. Both Andi and JP have worked on the frontline during the current Covid-19 pandemic all while searching for a diagnosis for Jaxyn and struggling through the new reality of homeschooling their young boys Aidan (8 yrs old) and Kason (6 yrs old).
During the projected year or more of chemotherapy Andi and JP will have to face the impossible decision of working full time in healthcare and potentially bringing home germs to their immunocompromised child or struggling to make ends meet financially. To help make this decision easier for them please consider donating if you are able. In addition to financial donations you can also send virtual cards, artwork, and messages of support from the community. To send messages to Jaxyn and her family visit her Facebook page at Jaxyn Strong-LCH.
Let’s show this family who has given so much to their community that we are behind them. Jaxyn Lou is a feisty young toddler who will “fight like a girl” and show LCH who is the boss.
Andi, an emergency room nurse, first noticed a faint rash on Jaxyn’s back and behind her ear when she was 3 months old. LCH is so rare it is often misdiagnosed as a more common skin rash such as eczema. Andi knew in her core that there was something wrong. She continued to push for answers. Over a year later after biopsies, skeletal x-rays, blood tests, and a PET scan little Jaxyn was finally diagnosed with LCH. In that time the disease has spread to the bones in her head, neck and pelvis. There is also concern for lymph node involvement. Despite feeling overwhelmed and heartbroken as a family they are relieved to finally have a diagnosis that they can begin to fight.
Tonight Jaxyn is at The University of New Mexico Children’s Hospital. She will have surgery in the morning to place a port and start a five day course of strong chemotherapy. She will then continue to have weeklong courses of chemotherapy once a month for the next year at least. They will repeat a PET scan at 2 months to see if the tumors are responding.
Jaxyn’s father JP Martinez has served as a firefighter in both Albuquerque and Rio Rancho and currently works in air medical transport. Andi Martinez is an emergency room nurse at Sandoval Regional Medical Center. Both Andi and JP have worked on the frontline during the current Covid-19 pandemic all while searching for a diagnosis for Jaxyn and struggling through the new reality of homeschooling their young boys Aidan (8 yrs old) and Kason (6 yrs old).
During the projected year or more of chemotherapy Andi and JP will have to face the impossible decision of working full time in healthcare and potentially bringing home germs to their immunocompromised child or struggling to make ends meet financially. To help make this decision easier for them please consider donating if you are able. In addition to financial donations you can also send virtual cards, artwork, and messages of support from the community. To send messages to Jaxyn and her family visit her Facebook page at Jaxyn Strong-LCH.
Let’s show this family who has given so much to their community that we are behind them. Jaxyn Lou is a feisty young toddler who will “fight like a girl” and show LCH who is the boss.
Co-organizers7
Andi Martinez
Beneficiary