Tamara's Battle with Cancer

Update (1/24): Thank you to everyone who has donated so far. We cannot begin to thank everyone enough for your support and prayers. We have a positive update to share. Tamara's cancer has been reacting positively to radiation and chemotherapy treatments thus far and, as a result, she was informed that she qualifies for a Head, Neck, and Throat Cancer Clinical Trial being run through Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Consequently, her radiation and chemotherapy sessions have been reduced by ~30%. News of qualifying for this clinical trial is a significant win for Tamara, especially given the daunting side effects associated with chemo and radiation. We pray for her continued progress and healing as she continues on the road toward healing and will keep everyone posted on her progress. Thank you, all, from the bottom of our hearts.

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Tamara Martinez, the eldest daughter of eleven children, wife, and mother of three, is a social worker/therapist at a middle school in Willimantic, Connecticut, where she offers therapy to students from primarily low-income, immigrant households. A swollen gland on her neck lead her to get it checked by a physician. After further testing, on December 12, 2022, Tamara was diagnosed with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma affecting the head, neck, and throat. This is a rare cancer - only 3% of diagnosed cancers are oropharyngeal cancer. While this has been devastating news for all involved, Tamara is hopeful that she can battle this cancer together with the support of her medical team, siblings, family, friends, and community.

The treatment plan for this cancer consists of several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, both of which come with a long list of debilitating side effects. Given the specific location of her cancer, treatment can impede her ability to speak and, therefore, work, throughout the course of her treatment. Consequently, her ability to care for her children and perform day-to-day tasks will be affected - cooking, doing laundry, bringing her children to and from practices, and attending her children's games.

Tamara has dedicated her life and career to caring for others' health and well-being - starting with her siblings from a young age and now the hundreds of lives who she has touched through her work. Now we are asking that all of us come together to help take care of her during this unimaginably difficult time. For those who are in a position to contribute to Tamara's recovery, your generous donation will go directly towards helping Tamara pay for the necessary medical treatments, household bills, food, gas and other unexpected costs over the coming months. Tamara's prognosis is hopeful, however, the road to recovery is a long one - the financial and physical toll of the treatment will be a tremendous hardship on her family until her cancer enters into remission. Throughout this process, Tamara is making efforts to bring awareness to increase early identification and early treatment for this type of cancer.

Words are not enough to thank you for any support that you can offer during this trying time.