Kim Martin's Cancer Journey Fund

Hi, my name is Marty Gaither. Kim's husband Lauren and I made this page and are working together on this fundraiser for Kim. The following is Kim’s story:

Kim Martin is a life-long nurse working previously in a Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit and for the last 24 years as a baby nurse and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant at her hospital. She was nicknamed “the Boob Whisperer” by her coworkers. She is a mother, spouse, advocate for the local and global poor and an all-around go-getter. In March of 2022, Kim was diagnosed with an Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor—a rare tumor appearing most frequently in pediatrics and young adults. Treatments have included surgeries to remove tumors (X3), targeted-therapy drugs (X3) and most recently two rounds of radiation therapy. During these surgeries and drug treatments, the tumor continued to grow, mutate and metastasize. She recently has been hospitalized – in the hospital where she worked – for tumor related sepsis infection.

Kim does not use the language of ‘battling’ or ‘fighting’ cancer. Instead speaking of her ‘cancer journey.’ She says “life has made decisions for me that no one would ever make for themselves.” With the support of family, faith and pure, exquisite stubbornness, she lives moment by moment and looks for the good.

Kim has needed to retire from her passion of working with newborns and their moms. Any support raised will be greatly appreciated and would go to supporting Kim’s desire for healing, including covering unpaid medical bills, transportation and meals to out-of-town hospital appointments or treatments, as well as associated medical/clinical support for Kim. If Kim’s desire is to travel to a favorite place before her death, this too will be considered “good medicine.”