You've Got Friends, Lynn F. Martin

This is a new experience for me, but I wanted to do something for my dear friend Lynn Fairchild Martin and this seemed like the best way that I could help in some small way.

Lynn and I became friends through our connection to another special friend, Tucker Watkins, a beautiful soul that passed on a few years ago but left a legacy of love, compassion and activism.  But this story isn't about me or Tucker, but about a woman that has been a friend to so many of us.  Someone who has given of her time, energy, love and money to help those who needed it; especially over the past couple of years until her health became compromised and she had to relinquish some of that control to others.  This is about giving back to her and hopefully showing her how many people will shower her with love in her hour of need.

Lynn was diagnosed more than a year ago with an auto-immune disease (ulcerative colitis, or UC).  She had been suffering with debilitating pain that was so similar to the cancer, that when the cancer actually began to grow (possibly as a result of the auto-immune disease), it had masked itself as the same symptoms.  After months of specialists, it was finally her local gynecologist who persevered to find and diagnose that she indeed had cervical cancer, along with the UC and after extensive testing, it was determined that it was Stage III.

Because of having UC at the same time as the cervical cancer, it altered how the treatments would usually be done – the radiation treatments for cervical cancer can also lead to other conditions, including colon cancer.  So, she embarked on three courses of treatment – external radiation, chemotherapy, and brachytherapy, which is an internal, highly concentrated radiation. Now she's enduring the side effects of the treatments, which could last for months, while she waits for the treatments to work.

On most days, she's extremely exhausted and lightheaded, leaving her unable to accomplish much. Her ears ring at points to where it’s almost deafening, which also creates a dizzying effect. On many days, she can’t even drive as a result. Her hands and feet burn and tingle, and her joints hurt. But, the real problem is that the pain is continuing. Her radiation oncology doctor is hoping that it’s just the result of the radiation, which he said gave her body a beating, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed while she continues with the pain meds.
For now, all that we can do is treat the side effects and the pain and wait for the next, couple of months to see if the treatments worked, at which time she’ll have to go back for extensive testing again. So, she's leaving it all in God’s hands now. Whatever He decides is how she will take it. She know that He’s always with her, no matter what it is that she's going through.  She understands that He has His plan, and she's just here to be a part of it. Life is an adventure. Not everything can be good. She's had beautiful moments in her life and God has blessed her in many ways.  She knows that Through Him, all things are possible.

Over the past couple of years she lost her beloved father, who meant the world to her.  Another blow came when she lost the love of her life, Perry.  She was taking care of Perry's mother, Bessie, until Lynn's health became so challenging that she could no longer care for her.

Throughout all of this she has remained upbeat, cheerful and optimistic which has been an inspiration to all of us that love her and know what's she's facing daily.  I'm reaching out to our Facebook friends and family to see if you would be willing to help Lynn financially in whatever way that you can.  

Yesterday was the National Day of Giving and while so many of us have our own daily challenges to deal with, it IS the Christmas season and I am hopeful that you will do what you can to help Lynn meet her daily financial obligations for living and her mounting medical bills.  She's depleted her savings and is struggling now.  I am reaching out to all of you because it's not in Lynn's nature to do so herself.

This is your opportunity to 'pay it forward' knowing all the wonderful things that Lynn has done to help others in need both with her time and financially.  Now she needs our help and I'm asking that you reach into your wallets, your Christmas funds, your daily Starbucks fix and your piggy banks to help Lynn meet these financial burdens.

Any of you who know Lynn understand how grateful she will be for your generosity and loving and giving spirit.

Thank you everyone!  Merry Christmas!  Love to you all from Lynn and me, Vivienne Smith.