Hello, Everyone. Our friend and kindred sister, Marti McDonald, is facing one of the greatest challenges of her life.
On February 6th, Marti developed shortness of breath after skiing and the next day she developed chest and back pain. On February 11, a CAT scan showed a large mass in her chest in between her lungs, sternum and heart. Marti thought it looked like Jabba the Hutt from Star Wars, so now that is it's name.
On Monday, March 15, Marti met with an oncologist and learned she has Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (non-Hodgkin lymphoma), an aggressive growing cancer. Her stress was magnified after blood clots were discovered that evening and 10 hours later when her father died from complications of Waldenstrom's Macroglobuliemia, a B cell cancer. He also had dementia. A PET Scan revealed an additional spot on her right adrenal gland above her kidney. Marti’s cancer staging is at least Stage III - a bone marrow biopsy will determine if she has Stage IV lymphoma.
Her extremely active lifestyle has come to a grinding halt as she was put on blood thinners and told to stop activity due to several large blood clots discovered in her L neck and shoulder. This is a byproduct of pressure on the veins above her heart created by the lymphatic mass.
Marti needs financial and emotional support.
Treatment for this type of cancer is aggressive. This past Monday Marti started chemotherapy treatment at Shaw Cancer Center in Edwards, CO. She will have five days of chemotherapy, two weeks off, then five more days of chemotherapy in that rotation for 6 - 8 weeks. Marti does not have health insurance but has a shared health plan which doesn't cove drugs, including chemotherapy. There is the potential that she will need radiation and stem cell transplant if chemotherapy does not prove effective.
Marti has been a healthcare provider in this valley since 2000. Her physical therapy career has included 19 years as a home health physical therapist and two years as an outpatient physical therapist. Prior to practicing physical therapy, Marti was a teacher and coach and she is currently a mountain bike instructor for Roaring Fork Cycling. Marti is compassionate, caring, and a great support to her patients and friends.
This site will allow Marti to update friends and family in one place on her treatment and progress. Please check the ways to help and the planner tabs to see how you can help with Marti's needs.
And please go to Marti's Go Fund Me site and share it with others! Checks, Paypal and Venmo are options as well.
Thank you for your care and support of Marti through this challenge.
