Chris Martin

Welcome to our Caringbridge site for Chris Martin.  We are utilizing this platform to keep our friends and family updated on Chris’s cancer journey. For many of you, the news that Chris has cancer will be a shock.  Believe me when I say, we still aren’t used to the idea.  In early May, Chris thought he got food poisoning.  After a couple of days, his condition appeared to be similar to Hepatitis A.  He had blood work taken before and after Daniel’s graduation which led to a CAT scan.  That led to an endoscopy where a doctor put in a stent.  The growth in his ampulla was biopsied and confirmed the cancer suspicion.  (The growth  was blocking the bile duct that empties into his small intestine which  is located near stomach, liver and pancreas.). It has been a bumpy week with two ER visits.  Chris is now learning how to "lay low"!  On Monday, June 10th at 7:30am, Dr. Babicky and staff  (She is a partner with Dr. Hansen’s well-known team) are wheeling him in for a whipple surgery at Providence Cancer Center.   This is a major surgery, very complicated and complex (6-8 hours).

At a minimum, Chris will be in the hospital a week.  It could be up to two weeks.  So much is unknown until we see how he recovers and rebounds.  Chris lost  about 10-12 lbs when he first noticed symptoms.  He has been in the “bulk” phase since the stent went in with daily smoothies packed with protein powder and full-fat yogurt, frequent peanut butter and chocolate milkshakes, nightly desserts and three full meals a day.  He has put on some of the weight he lost.


Claire and Daniel will both be home on Monday as Chris heads into surgery.  We will update this blog when we have some news to share.  Chris and I are very intentionally choosing to live in hope and not fear.  We believe in the power of prayer and would appreciate all the prayers you can muster. 


 If you have any desire to be part of a Meal Train, please e-mail my friend Meghan Pence who will graciously be managing it for us. 
Email Meghan directly and she will send you the sign-up link: pence5@comcast.net 


We are happy to have you share this blog with anyone you know who is a mutual friend of ours.  Also, please feel free to send cards, emails and texts. You may not get a reply but know how much we appreciate the support. I will read all the messages to Chris to brighten his (and my) day.  We have felt so overwhelmingly supported and loved in this past month as we’ve been unraveling this diagnosis.  Our cups runneth over when it comes to amazing friends.  We’ll keep you in the loop as things progress.

Using this site will be the easiest way for us to keep you all informed but free us up from multiple phone calls, texts and emails.