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‘Don’t Take For Granted That You Will See Your Kids Grown’
July 30, 2009
Marty Green of Bratt thought she felt bad from too much stress in her life. Within a few shorts weeks, she learned that it was not stress but stage IV lung cancer.
The year started off rough for Marty and her husband Greg — their teenage daughter Blaze was critically injured in car accident on Greenland Road in Davisville on January 7. Blaze’s condition was dire at the time, with doctors telling the family that she should have been paralyzed from the waist down. She spent weeks in a halo to hold her head in a fixed position as she recovered from a fractured neck. The family was also busy taking care of a bedridden relative. Marty knew she was feeling bad; and she knew that there was a lot of stress in her life.
“I just thought I was having a much needed nervous breakdown,” Marty said. She felt “pretty bad” for a couple of weeks and had a few chest pains. She had always been one of those healthy people that seldom visited a doctor. But she found a doctor, and she was treated for stress. Two months later, the treatments were not working, and she knew something else was wrong.
She was now losing her voice, so she made an appointment with an ENT — ear, nose and throat specialist. He thought he saw something during her exam under her vocal cords, and he ordered a CT scan. There was nothing under her vocal cords, but there were spots on her lungs, adrenal glands and lymph nodes. A biopsy was scheduled the next day. The results were not good.
It took three weeks to get an appointment with an oncologist. The news was really bad, and the words were hard to hear: Stage IV large cell carcinoma.
“He would not give me a prognosis,” Marty, 44, said. “He just said it is bad. One day at time. He did not want me to think about that.”
She is undergoing aggressive chemotherapy. Tuesday and Wednesday were her first full days in many weeks at home without trips to Pensacola for medical appointments.
“I am just hoping that maybe I will feel better for a few more days,” Marty said. “It’s now in my bones,” she added, almost as an afterthought.
Her conversation was matter of fact, repeating what the doctors have said. She talked about the disease that has attacked her body with little emotion, almost as if she was talking about someone else. She has told the story before.
But the next part of the story was the hard part.
“I want to wish that it was all a dream; you just don’t think this will happen to you,” she said.
“I have to keep my faith up. The Lord is going to step in and do His thing. He did it for Blaze; I know he can do it for me.” She paused for a moment. “If it is His will.”
“I worry about the kids, Greg, my mom.”
It is easy to see in the Green’s living room that family is important. The family pictures are everywhere. They are not all the posed portraits that everyone displays. Some are just simple snapshots of cherished moments over the years. Like a photo of son Blake, now 12, when he played machine pitch ball a few years ago. It’s one of her favorites.
She enjoys looking at the photos as she sits in her corner chair in the living room. She enjoys the family memories.
“I know the Lord can heal. But he might have a different plan for me. We just don’t know. I worry about Greg and the kids.”
She knows that if she is not healed, that there might be other reasons.
“It might be his plan to send a message to all those out there to take better care of themselves, and get their faith straight. You never know when it is your time to go,” she said, followed by a long pause as she gathered her strength to continue. It was hard to say the next words.
“Don’t take for granted that you will see your kids grown.”
There was more to that statement than might be imagined. Marty has already lost one child, a daughter almost five years old that died after being thrown from a horse. She found out she was pregnant with Blaze just a month later.
“She was my angel. She was my answered prayer.”
In January, when she found out Blaze was in that car wreck and was being transported via LifeFlight, it was hard.
“When I almost lost Blaze, it was was more than I could stand.”
For Blaze, 16, it’s been a tough year. From the car accident, to the halo cast, to missing the rest of the school year, to the decision not to return as a Northview cheerleader — it’s been a lot.
When asked about her mom, Blaze answered, “It’s been a big change; I was used to her doing things around here, now I have to do them.” It was one of those answers that someone gives because it is the easier thing to say. When asked again, she paused. It was a lot for a daughter to say about her mom.
“When I think about her not being here,” Blaze said, no longer able to fight back the tears, “…think about her not being here…it’s a lot for a 16 year old. God will be here for us.”
“I tell her to never forget what the Lord did for her, and don’t let other people forget either,” Marty said. “He is good.”
The Green family does not have health insurance. A coed softball tournament to benefit Marty Green will be held beginning at 8 a.m. on August 1 at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill. The coed softball team must consist of seven men and three women, double elimination. There is a $200 entry fee. For more information, contact Bodie Tullis at (850) 327-6788 or (850) 327-6722, Theresa Hanks at (850) 327-6722 or Pam Brown at (850) 327-6155. The tournament is sponsored by Northwest Escambia Little League and Northwest Escambia Football, with all proceeds going toward Marty Green’s medical expenses.
“I just want to thank everyone for what they have done for us,” Marty said.
Pictured top: Greg and Marty Green, daughter Blaze Green and son Blake Green. Pictured top inset: Marty Green prior to learning that she had cancer. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com. Pictured bottom inset: Blaze Green was severely injured while riding in the backseat of this car on January 7. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Comments
40 Responses to “‘Don’t Take For Granted That You Will See Your Kids Grown’”
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all during this difficult time.
David, Marissa, Brittany & Breiah Adams
So lucky to have had you as my friend for over 25 years…RIP…Love you–
greg,blaze and blake Stay strong and know that ya’ll are loved by so many people. Turn to your family and friends because they are there for you now. I love ya’ll and i’ll be praying for you. Marty will always be in your hearts and watching over you.
Marty we love you and just wanted you to know that!!!!!!
Juanita, Brian, Krysten and Bubby
marty,I am so sorry to hear that your sick. You mean so much to me. we’ve had so many good times together and you helped me thru some dark times when I didn’t have anybody else. my prayers and thoughts and love are with ya’ll. Love you always, vicky
Marty, I hope u know that we love you and prayer works because you know i been though it twice, so don’t give up.
From what I have read here I know that you are a believer. I see that you have a lot of people who are praying with you. You have one who even shared her story of God as a healer in her life. He’s the same God. He can do the same for you. Trust God for your healing. He healed the woman with the issue of blood. He made the blind man see. He healed the sick. Trust God for your healing. There is no illness too big or too small for God.. If you tell him what you need and have faith and believe you will win the victory. A miracle is just a miracle. May God continue to bless you and your family.
marty it has been many years since i have saw you or talked to you (we spent alot of time together when we were in school) it is really good to see you again after so long. I am sorry that it is during this time in your life. My heart goes out to you and your family. I went through a similar process in early 2008. I was also diagnosed with cancer but fortunatly they were able to remove mine. I was not worried about me but the people that i might be leaving behind . My prayers were answered by our awesome LORD and i will be praying for you and your family. Please keep in touch with me. Its hard to believe that once we are no longer in school and move out into the world that we can lose touch with so many that we spent much of our childhood with. And to think that we all still live in the communities that we grew up in and do not even know that we are still so close to one another. May God Bless You and I will pray for you everyday.
May God Bless, you and your family and keep you in his hands. Its hard and remember you have friends and those wonder ful children to help you and your husband.
Sorry to here the new. You are a blessiing to everyone.
marty – I hope you feel better soon and I know you will….I appreciate all you have done for me especially when you let me stay at you home that one crazy summer… I pray for you daily love anthony
Marty i hope you start feeing better and I know you will.. I appreciate all that you have done for me and pray everyday for you……
we all love you just keep fighting your battles and god bless you
Marty , you are a big part of my life. You are the reason I moved to Bratt. I pray for you daily, I know its not easy but you cannot give up. You are my heart. The rice balls are on the way.
Can Cancer Conquer You?
I doubt it!
For Cancer is so limited…
It cannot cripple love;
It cannot shatter hope;
It cannot eat away peace;
It cannot destroy confidence;
It cannot kill friendship;
It cannot silence courage;
It cannot invade the soul;
It cannot reduce eternal life;
It cannot quench the spirit;
It cannot lessen the power of ressurrection!
You guys are in our prayers,
Paeton, Preston, Cole, Cameron & Tennelle
Marty,
We will continue to pray for you and your family. If there is anything we can do please call us. May God bless you and your family.
To the Green family:
Blaze is in Lance’s grade, that’s the only association I have with you. Except, however, I too am fighting Stage IV Breast Cancer. I was first diagnosed in 1998 when Lance & Shane were 5 & 4 years old. All I kept telling my husband then is I just want to see them graduate from high school. In November, 2006 I found out that my cancer was back and had spread all throughout my chest, lymph nodes, etc. It has damaged half of my diaphram and is damaging the nerve to my vocal codes. The doctors in 2006 only gave me 18 months. But, I’m still fighting. I’ve been in chemotherapy every week since December, 2006. My goal is to still see my boys graduate high school. At Northview this year, Lance will be a Junior and Shane will be a Freshman. So I’ve got to fight for at least another four years.
Our faith has carried us through this. Your faith will too! God does have plans for us……we just don’t know what those plans are, but have faith that you are here for a reason. Take the time to say the things you want to your loved ones. Take the time to forgive those who have wronged you. Take the time to enjoy every day to it’s fullest. That’s what God wants us to do everyday!
We are all praying for you and your family. Even though we are strangers, we still have something in common. If you ever need to talk to someone who understands and knows what you are going through, I’m here for you!
God bless you and your entire family.
Penny Bushaw
Dear Green Family,
I do not know any of you personally, but you are all in my prayers. HE is our Healer!
marty,
john and i are keeping you in our prayers.
You and your family are in our constant prayer.
I have known Greg and Marty for many years, and if one thing I could say Greg and Marty have made one beautiful family. Marty Keepyour faith.
You must think positively. That is the key. You are what you think about as your thoughts eventually become reality. Stress and worry only bring one’s body down. Believe without a doubt that God will bring you through. Don’t doubt it for one second. Don’t just ask God to heal you, believe with all of your heart that he will. Positive thinking. That is the key for all of us.
Marty, I’m so very sorry about everything your family is going through and what you & your family has already endured in your lives. Cancer is like a thief in the night that robs us blind. It is an invasive monster and everyone in it’s path is left hurt and devastated. I know what you are going through and exactly how your family feels because I went through this with my own mother in 2008. Trust in God, love one another & spend all the time you can together and pray. My heart goes out to all of you and know I am praying for you and thinking of you all.
Marty,
My heart aches for you, Greg, Blaze, and my Blake. You have NO idea ho attached I have become to him. He is a well mannered, kind-hearted, absolutely PRECIOUS young man. I am HONESTLY offering my help in any way you need it. Should you need a place for Blake to stay during doctor visits, or if you need help at home- CALL ME! I will be here for you. That’s a promise! Blake, Ms. Janice loves you SO much my dear. I am praying for your mamma’s full recovery. Love YOU ALL!
Our prayers are with your family. God is the Great Physician and has a plan for you. Keep the faith that all things work for good for ones who love and trust the Lord. GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILY!
I don’t know Mrs.Green,but my daughter went to school with Blaze.I know what you are going through,I lost my mother in 2006 from breast cancer.I have put you on the prayer list at our church.You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers!!
Praying for you and your family. God can still heal your body.
God is so good.
Marty ~me and my entire church are praying for you and your family. There is no testimony without a test. God’s grace will get you through. My heart is breaking for you and your family.
Please read Rev. 21
Love to you my old classmate
Nancy
EWHS Class of 82
God Bless You, Marty and family. By His stripes we are healed!! We all need to believe that miracles from God still happen. May He give you & the family strength & peace and healing. You are in my prayers.
What a wonderful testimony, Tina.
Marty, you are in my thoughts and prayers. May God continue to comfort you and bring you through this battle.
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me”.
My heart goes out to the family. I just lost my mother 07-13-09. Keep your faith in god and really believe that he can and will heal. It’s hard, but if you pray, don’t worry about the situation. Another thing, GOD DOES NOT MAKE MISTAKES & NEVER QUESTION HIS ACTIONS. To the children. Spend as much time with your parents as possible, and help them out in any way you can. not saying that your parents will be deceased first, but by you doing all that you can, the hurt and pressure will not be as bad, beacause within yourself, you will know that you did all that you could do. Stayed prayed up. Never give up. and cherish the time that you have left with eachother. whatever you do, please believe in god. My mother always told me that it’s not always the leaning tree that falls first. I will pray for your mother and a successful recovery, for blaze, and the family.
Has anyone at the hospital offered to help with getting her on Social Security Disability? She can with her diagnosis. Not much help, but it would offer some.
Green family, you are in my prayers. Keep your faith, God will help you though this.
Marty, you, Greg, Blaze & Blake are in our prayers every day.
Marty, You are one of the strongest women I know. I admire you and I always have. There is no doubt in my mind that God has a plan for you, we just have to stay strong and keep believing. I love you so very much, so much more than you will never know. To me you were always more like a big sister than an aunt because were so close growing up. I am praying for you and so are so many others. Keep strong and believing in God cause he will watch over you.
Love,
Your personal nurse and favorite niece!!!
Will pray for this situation.
Psalm 34:1-7
Marty, whatever you do, don’t give up, keep your faith in God. One year ago I was admitted to the hospital and was told that I had lung cancer also, with the help of people praying around the clock, prayer & support from my church, a new attitude and dedicating my life to the Lord, that cancer just suddenly could not be found 3 weeks later and I know that it was healing from God.
It left me with a story to tell, which I have told to total strangers standing in the store, at yard sales, at work, at the post office, you name it, and I’m still telling it to who ever will listen. With the advice from my Pastor, I refused to allow anyone to pray for me as if I were dying, and only accepted prayers for healing.
3 Weeks later the Dr’s were “confused” and called it a “medical mystry” BUT never offered the glory to God!!
We are praying for you!
We will pray for you and your family, wish you great luck at the fundraiser, I had a family member with the same diagnosis. stage 4 (non-small cell) so I assume it mean’s the same as your’s. From our home to your’s. Prayer’s will be sent.
My heart goes out to Mrs. Green. I lost my son ten years ago. Her faith is in the right place and it is strong – that is good. Such extreme trials give you a different view of life and what is truly important.
Marty, you and your family are in our prayers daily. May God bless you and keep you. Your faith and hope are a blessing to read about.