Last week, the Brodzki family was shattered with the worst kind of news: Martha, beautiful mom to Jessie, MJ, Annie, and wife to Zenón, was diagnosed with Leukemia. A few weeks prior to the diagnosis, Martha thought she was coming down with a cold and was feeling extremely fatigued. After no improvement and the fatigue worsening, she decided to go to the ER. By that evening, she was diagnosed with leukemia and transferred to the City of Hope in Duarte, California.

 

Luckily, Martha is in one of the best hospitals for cancer treatment on the West Coast. The current plan is to undergo about two months of chemotherapy and then eventually, a bone marrow transplant. Fortunately, she has an amazing twin sister, Mary, who will hopefully be a good match.

 

Martha is one of those people who wears her heart on her sleeve. She is kind. She is loving. You can feel her genuine warmth with a simple conversation, and as you get to know her more, she’s the kind of person who makes your life fuller, more beautiful. She gives without any expectation of receiving. She is also hilarious and will make you laugh until your stomach hurts! Martha is one of those rare souls who instantly makes you feel not only welcome, but like you’re meant to be there because she wants you there. She makes you feel like you’re actually a part of the Brodzki clan, playing games with your little ones, snapping incredible photos at sports events and making sure you receive a copy, inviting you to share in intimate family celebrations, making you instantly feel so incredibly welcome - like family.

 

In addition to being a wife, mother, sister, aunt, and friend, she has also endured one of the toughest years this year, with her sister Jane suddenly passing away after being diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis.

 

As friends of Martha and her family, we want to do everything we can to support them in this incredibly tumultuous process. The family has been blown away about the love and support people are offering, with so many asking how they can help.  This is why we have decided to create a GoFundMe, to help with any unforeseen challenges that will occur throughout this process - and even a little bit you can share will help toward medications, gas, groceries, food delivery, petting sitting, unexpected items, etc.

 

Martha has been absolutely incredible since the diagnosis. She is a warrior and we will be here for her every step along the way. Please consider donating to this beautiful family – and please share widely so we can give back to the family who has given us so much.

 

 

 

With love,

 

Rachel, Courtney, Natalie, and Hallie (Friends of Jessie, MJ, and Annie.)