This Thanksgiving, the Martin family is most grateful for something they once feared might be lost: a return to normalcy.
For 8-year-old Westin Martin, normal means building things with his hands. It means playing outside with friends, dissecting old toys to see how they work and finding new ways to help the people around him. Normal means laughter, mischief and funny animal videos. It means being a kid again.
Just a year ago, normal seemed out of reach.
It began with a tumble at the family cabin. A minor collision between siblings led to a sore back. Nothing alarming, until the pain worsened and Westin could hardly walk. What was meant to be a relaxing time, filled with family vacation frivolity, turned into a series of doctor’s visits: an X-ray, then an MRI, then labs. What began as a minor injury quickly unraveled into a diagnosis no family is ever prepared for: neuroblastoma.
“I’ll never forget the moment it was confirmed,” said his mom, Andee. “It felt like the floor was pulled out from under us.”
But Westin didn’t cry. He didn’t even flinch.
“I always knew I was going to get cancer,” he said quietly, as if a gut feeling had been preparing him for what was to come. This initial office visit was just the beginning.
In the months that followed, Westin showed the kind of strength few adults could summon. He learned to breathe through pain. He opted out of medication unless necessary. He even taught himself how to swallow multiple pills. And most importantly, he kept smiling.
“He missed his siblings the most,” Andee shared. “But they always found a way to make him laugh.”
Through surgeries, scans, chemotherapy and immunotherapy, one constant remained: Westin’s spirit. And just as powerful was the support that surrounded him: friends, church and school members and the compassionate team at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital.
Doctors like Dr. McKeone and Dr. Sholler made Westin’s parents feel like equal partners in Westin’s care. Nurses became like family. And Four Diamonds made sure the Martins never had to choose between their son’s treatment and their financial stability.
“When we found out Four Diamonds would cover all cancer-related medical expenses, it was like a weight was lifted,” Andee said. “We didn’t have to worry about insurance denying tests. We could focus on Westin.”
This fall, Westin is back in school. He recently served as a ring bearer in a family wedding. And he’s back to doing what he loves: learning, building and giving. He dreams up ways to help others and kids who know Westin have followed his lead. They have started fundraisers, crafted items and donated what they can for others who might have also tumbled in the unexpected.
“We’re grateful for every moment,” Andee said. “From watching him swim again to seeing him confident and joyful, we don’t take anything for granted.”
In a season that calls us to reflect on what matters most, the Martins carry a deeper definition of thankfulness.
“Hope used to mean surviving,” Andee said. “Now, it means a full life ahead.”
