12-year-old Among Children Supported By Jus Cancer Support Group

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Jus Cancer support group cordially invited us to their annual tea brunch at Holy Cross Anglican Church where we were served treats, and a glimpse into the life of Miracle Martin, a brave girl battling cancer.

Martin began her speech by describing life before her diagnosis, one of an ambitious twelve-year-old.

She was a rising track athlete, participated in beauty pageants, danced in Junkanoo and was doing well in school.

Then, she nervously shared with the room the day she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic.

Miracle Martin – Young Cancer Fighter

“On Thursday, July 17th something happened that I will never forget, that morning I went to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital…I thought it would be the same routine, they always…had to run test and draw blood, but this time it was much worse, something I wouldn’t wish on anyone.”

“I sat there waiting on the lab results to come back, they arrived faster than I expected and that’s when I heard…the words no one ever wants to hear….cancer,” she said.

Hearing the devastating news shattered her, and she spent the following days trying to understand what came next.

Determined not to be a victim but a conqueror, she found strength in faith and hope.

“As I started to cry I looked up and asked God why, why me I didn’t know what to do, I didn’t understand how everything could change in one moment and as the days passed I began to realize something, cancer doesn’t define me, it doesn’t change who I am, and it doesn’t take away everything I’ve worked for,” she said.

Martin hopes that her experience with such a rare form of cancer can become a source of inspiration and help for others.

“My case of cancer is rare. so rare, the doctors haven’t seen it before, [and] because of that they’re starting to do research looking for similar cases in the future, maybe someone else won’t have to go through all these scary test and hospital visits.

“That makes me happy to know that my case will be a work in cancer history and help someone else one day…,” she said.