Marti’s Story

Site created on April 1, 2021

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.

Newest Update

December 21, 2021

Journal entry by Marti McDonald —

Today is the day I got the news I've been waiting for.  I met with my oncologist to review my PET scan from last week and no further cancer treatment needed.  Jabba (my primary tumor) and all the other ones are gone; well Jabba is a small pile of scar tissue.  I will continue to have CT scans; the next one is in 3 months.  I've been eagerly awaiting the clearance to get my chemotherapy port out, which is in my right upper chest out and to get of blood thinners.  Hopefully, I can get the port out before non-essential medical procedures are shut down due to the rapidly rising COVID rates.  Blood thinners will be discontinued 6 weeks after the port is out.  My PET scan on November 3rd remained unchanged from the prior one and this most recent one created a lot of anxiety.  That is now relieved.

I am still challenged by several side effects from my treatments but there is slow improvement. One of the more challenging side effects is my unsteady gait and balance; at times I walk like I'm very drunk and I lose my balance especially when I turn left.  Walls and furniture have become my staple in fall prevention.  It's crazy, but I can mountain bike and ski like I always have, but then when I get off the bike or take the skis off, I have a staggering walk.  Know that I'm not drink.  I could go on for paragraphs on the other side effects but I will spare you.  I am super excited to have about a 1.5 inches of hair on my head.

I haven't spent much time on this site as I've been celebrating being alive.  I had an amazing birthday vacation mountain biking and hiking with Melissa and a great group of friends. I've been gradually increasing my time at work but am not back to full time yet.  

Words alone cannot express my gratitude for all the help I have received from family and friends.  I recently took a class through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and research shows better cancer outcomes occur with a good support system.  I had a great support system.  Please consider donations to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  I continue to have financial needs, so if you are able and willing to help I have links on this site for Go fund me, pay pal and venmo.  THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!  Marti
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