Who is Roxanne Martinez?
Roxanne is a 30-year-old new mother who is battling breast cancer. She is a marketing genius, loving daughter, sister, aunt, girlfriend, community volunteer, social runner, dog lover, football fanatic and peewee football coach. A rock to many, she is a friend to hundreds across the country.
Known by her friends and family as Roxy, she is a young leader and member of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations, United Way of Tarrant County Young Leaders Society, Diamond Hill/NorthSide Youth Athletic Association Board, International Association of Business Communicators and is a University of Florida Alumna.
Roxy’s Story:
During Breast Cancer Awareness Month last October, Roxy donated to the Susan G. Komen Making Strides initiative. It was during that month that Roxy discovered a lump in her left breast during a self exam. A visit to her primary physician revealed that Roxy was pregnant and a breast ultrasound and biopsy were ordered to investigate the tumor. While breast cancer does not run in her family, Roxy was diagnosed with the aggressive Triple Negative Breast Cancer on November 1.
With her mind and heart made up not to terminate her pregnancy, Roxy was happy to learn that she could pursue
treatment for breast cancer while pregnant. However, her treatment options would be limited and timing had to be just right. A month after her diagnosis, Roxy underwent a modified radical mastectomy to remove her left breast. The surgery would reveal that Roxy had Stage IIA, Grade 3 breast cancer with clear lymph nodes. A month after surgery and about to enter her second trimester, Roxy began eight rounds of chemotherapy.
Since her diagnosis, Roxy has helped educate other women about breast cancer as a volunteer for the Susan G. Komen Greater Fort Worth Office. She recently completed her local Race for the Cure 5K, days after her seventh round of chemo and while seven months pregnant. Roxy is also participating in a national research effort to help other pregnant women fighting cancer, led by Dr. Elyce Cardonick, a NJ doctor recently featured on the Today Show and on msnbc.com. On April 20, 2011, under the supervision of an oncologist, obstetrician and high risk ob specialist, Roxy successfully delivered a healthy baby girl, Serenity Milagros Shelbon.
Roxy’s Need:
An industrious person since her undergraduate days at the University of Florida, Roxy usually held two jobs to provide for herself and also help her family. Two months prior to her diagnosis, Roxy had just begun a new job as Senior Marketing Specialist at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. After her surgery, Roxy was terminated from her job, as she did not yet qualify for short-term disability or the Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA). For the first time in her adult life, Roxy is unemployed. Roxy has chosen to retain her COBRA health coverage to continue the best possible cancer treatment plan. Roxy’s treatment, even with health coverage, can run anywhere from $8,000-14,000.
The Team Roxy Movement:
Roxy’s younger brothers launched a web site to collect donations and raise funds toward Roxy’s treatment. Supporters nationwide – known as Team Roxy – are hosting fundraisers to help with Roxy’s medical expenses. Events have been planned in Fort Worth, New York City, Washington, D.C., Boston, Miami, Toronto, Orlando, Tampa, Tennessee, North Carolina and more – for an estimated 20 cities in the continental United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. For more information about the national Team Roxy efforts, visit www.team-roxy.com or contact Ashley Cisneros at 407-608-8765.
Press & Buzz:
Tweet by Celebrity Rosario Dawson - http://mobile.twitter.com/rosariodawson/status/61467868692348929
WFAA-TV Channel 8 video interview & article - http://www.wfaa.com/news/health/Hope-for-Two-121107099.html
Telemundo interview - http://www.telemundodallas.com/video/27436468/index.html
Telemundo article - http://www.telemundodallas.com/noticias/27436300/detail.html
NewLatina.Net Blog Post - http://newlatina.net/rooting-for-roxy-a-30-year-old-mami-to-be-battling-breast-cancer/
For more info, visit http://team-roxy.com/