A Football Family
- Kevin Martin works at the Colts stadium as an usher for section 144, and he’s found a family of season ticket holders there that have shown him great love and support.
- When Martin was diagnosed with stage four liver cancer this summer, his family of Colts regular stepped up to create a GoFundMe account. They’ve also offered to share their seats if working becomes too much next football season.
- It’s important to try to find people who can be in your corner when faced with a cancer battle. Whether that be from your workplace or your church, finding the right people to give you support when you need it can make a huge difference.
The 58-year-old initially applied for the security position with the Indianapolis Colts organization because he wanted to be able to watch the football games in person. But what started as an easy way to see some games soon became much more when he grew to know the fans in his assigned section.
Read More“When we go to the games, it not just to go see the Colts, it’s to see Kevin,” season ticket holder Candace Robinson told WTHR. “It’s the first thing we do, we find Kevin, we hug him, everybody in my group, everybody in our section, everybody knows him.”
And those relationships Martin has built have taken on a new meaning this summer after he was diagnosed with stage four cholangiocarcinoma, a type of liver cancer that begins in the bile ducts a series of thin tubes that go from the liver to the small intestine. Martin’s friends even set up a GoFundMe page which immediately received an anonymous $10,000 donation. Martin plans to use the money to pay for rent, transportation to treatment and food as he waits for Social Security benefits that might not be approved until the end of the year.
"It’s just that they had enough forethought and love in their heart to want to set this up for me was really overwhelming," Martin told WTHR. "They didn’t have to do it, but they saw fit to do it. Whoever the person is, I appreciate it, I thank you for it and you touched my heart in a way you will never know."
And Martin has already signed up to work in the same section next year with abundant support from the Indianapolis Colts organization but some of the regulars have already offered to share their seats if working becomes too much next football season. So, no matter what happens, Martin is taking his treatments in stride and eagerly awaiting the upcoming football season.
“I’ll see you at the Colts game, Section 144, come see me!” Martin said.
Understanding Liver Cancer
Liver cancer begins in the liver an organ located beneath the diaphragm and above the stomach. The most common form of the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma, but there are other types of liver cancers as well such as Kevin Martin’s type cholangiocarcinoma. Cholangiocarcioma is a relatively rare and aggressive malignancy and symptoms include jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), abdominal pain, itching, dark urine and a change in the consistency of stool.
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There are a number of risk factors associated with liver cancer. One of the main links is excessive alcohol consumption. Other risk factors include a family history of the disease, diabetes and exposure to aflatoxins (poisons produced by mold).
Blood tests, ultrasounds, CT scans (X ray images), MRIs (medical imaging) and angiograms are generally used to confirm a liver cancer diagnosis. A liver biopsy, where a small piece of tissue is removed and analyzed for cancerous cells, may also be performed.
We don't know too much about what Kevin Martin’s course of treatment looks like, but we do know that he is undergoing chemotherapy right now. Oftentimes, a liver transplant is considered the best plan when the patient is eligible. For cases of recurrent liver cancer and cancer that has spread throughout the body, your doctor may consider targeted therapy, immunotherapy or chemotherapy as the next step.
The Importance of Support
When faced with a cancer battle, it’s important to try to find people who can be in your corner. Thankfully, Kevin Martin has had his Colts-fans family to show him extra love and support as he undergoes chemotherapy, but that is not the case for everyone.
So while you may not have a Colts fan section rooting for you during treatment, it’s important to try to find people that will. In a previous interview with SurvivorNet, Monica Layton explained how her church congregation gave her much needed support as she battled ovarian cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ovarian cancer survivor Monica Layton shares how her church was her biggest support system
"[I've] gone to the same church for a long time, so it's like another family that really supports me," Layton told SurvivorNet. "We're Episcopalian, and when I was having surgery my priest came to the hospital and stayed and prayed with my family the whole time and it was a long surgery. And then he came back to the hospital every day to pray with me."
In addition to praying for her, Layton's church also sent flowers, cards and a prayer blanket and often visited her.
"They were so kind," Layton said. "I think my faith has been very important, crucial for me. Just the prayer really helps, I think."
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