We are the Martins.
Our world was turned upside down when our son, Brady, was diagnosed with an extremely rare Leukemia mutation in June 2021.
We travel to schools, churches, and other organizations to speak about our journey and how to find hope and joy in the midst of the most impossible places. Our mission is to spread the message that “no one battles alone” and to help bring awareness to the battles that might be unseen in the world around us.
We continue to pray for the Lord to use this battle for good and for our lives to be transformed as well. We hope to inspire others through our stories and service as we walk through this dark and winding journey.
“You have armed me with strength for the battle…”
Psalm 18:39
Now.
Brady’s Diagnosis
Brady was diagnosed with High Risk Pre B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on June 10, 2021. Two weeks later the doctors discovered he had an extremely rare “Philadelphia Chromosome-Like” mutation. In fact, he is only the 65th person in the world to have been found with this particular mutation.
If you know anything about pediatric cancer, then you know that 1 in 5 children won’t survive it. Those that do survive are very likely to face extremely hard things even after their cancer has been beaten.
Eight months after a life-saving bone marrow transplant thanks to his twin brother, Blake, Brady’s cancer returned.
We were devastated and heartbroken. His transplant had failed and the options and outlook were bleak.
But his story wasn’t over.
Thankfully, Brady was accepted into a clinical trial at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. There he received his new, warriors t-cells in December of 2022 as patient number 71 of the HuCart Clinical Trial.
Today, Brady is coming up on two years CANCER FREE.
The Lord has shown us an incredible miracle through our son’s battle and the pain we have walked through birthed a mission within us.
A story of hope and fighting for joy – now available in print.
Following their son Brady’s rare leukemia diagnosis, the Martins embarked on a quest to unearth meaning amid their agonizing journey. Kristin, Brady’s mom, initiated an online journal, which became a beacon of hope during their darkest hours. The journal chronicled the family’s unwavering support for Brady in his battle, bringing solace to her wounded soul. As the family grappled with adversity, Kristin’s faith in Jesus flourished, illuminating their path.
This book shares her journal entries, unveiling the struggles they faced. Her words inspire readers to discover healing, hope, and joy in their own lives no matter what battles they face.
Their hope and prayer is that their battle will be a light to your life as well.
Grab your copy to read the unbelievable battle and complete story that birthed the Battle Pup mission.
10% of every book sale goes to fund Battle Pups!
Brady, Blake, Aubrey, and Cooper find great comfort and joy in stuffed animals, especially dogs. Since being diagnosed in June 2021, Brady has spent countless days at the hospital receiving treatment. Some of those days got so impossible that we had to formulate a plan to make them less miserable. Enter the birth of the Battle Pup mission.
The journal entry from THROUGH THE BATTLE, written August 16, 2021, that was the beginning of it all:
Another day. Another trip to NCH. Another transfusion needed.
It was raining this morning and neither one of us wanted to go. Both of us kept whining about it during our preparation and drive.
“I just want to stay home” were words I kept hearing and “me too” were the words I kept saying.
But, In the car we went, through the pouring rain.We were almost there when Brady said, “can’t we please just go back home?”
I thought about it for a few seconds. And I quickly thought about the things that would make his heart happy and change his outlook on the day.
So then I said, “you know what Brady, I don’t want to go either, but let’s make the best of it. Why don’t we find someone to bless today? Let’s go with the mission of doing good for someone else.”
Chris and I have spent the last several years trying to cultivate hearts in our children that love to serve others. Through the countless weekends they have spent serving their community in different ways (that have sometimes ended in crying), they have learned the satisfaction and pure joy that comes from being a blessing to someone else, especially when that person wasn’t expecting it.
And Brady is the leader of the group. Serving others brings such joy to his heart. When it comes to the five love languages, he is an acts of service kid all day long. So whenever it comes to outreach or helping others, Brady is your kid.
His voice lightened as he asked, “who should we help?”I told him I wasn’t sure, but I’m sure we would know when we got there. Deep down, once the words had left my lips I already knew who it would be.
You see, this journey is hard, but there have been so many good things that have come from it. We have been blessed to work with some incredible nurses that have left a mark on our hearts forever. One of those nurses was expecting her first child.
A couple weeks ago in our conversation she told us that her sweet baby girl was going to be born into a battle of its own and for the last couple weeks I haven’t been able to get them off of my mind. I’ve been praying for them constantly. The long surgeries she would go through, the time a part they had to face, the pain they would endure, all of it. Today, we learned that momma is doing well and baby girl is battling just a few floors away.
So after his transfusion, we headed for the gift shop. Brady picked out the most amazingly soft, fluffy unicorn I’ve ever seen (along with a couple other things) for that sweet baby girl. Because you know, soft things are the best.
We both left with smiles on our faces and joy in our hearts.
Sometimes we have to take our eyes off the things we can’t change and ask God how to help us see the victory in the battle we are in. We need to ask Him to open our eyes to the joy around us.
And if we can’t find joy in our circumstances, then let us be joy in someone else’s.
A funny thing happens when you be the light, you actually get brighter too. So really, it’s a win-win.
So, go be the light friends. Find a way to share some love today.
“Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”
A life-changing illness is hard for the person diagnosed, but it is equally hard for those who love them.
We have been first-hand witnesses to that.
Standing helplessly on the sidelines is equally as hard as those confined by their trial.
Our hope and prayer is that something as simple as a soft and cuddly dog, can bring strength, joy, and encouragement to those as they take on their battle – whatever their battle looks like.
We prayed Psalm 18:39 over our family as we battled with, and for, Brady. Now, we pray those same words over our Battle Pups. We pray that they, too, have been “armed with strength for the battle”.
In fact, every Battle Pup comes with a collar that reads “armed with strength” so that the warrior holding them is always reminded of that prayer that is covering them as well.
When we first started Way to Battle in October of 2021, just three months into Brady’s cancer battle, our kids originally hoped to give away 200 Battle Pups by the end of that year.
But little did we know, the Lord was about to take the mission he had placed on our hearts and expand it beyond our wildest dreams.
As of Thanksgiving 2023, nearly 20,000 people have been nominated and received their own Battle Pup!!!
And now, fall of 2024 it has grown even more. We have now given away more than 50,000 Battle Pups!
50,000.
That is 50,000 lives that have been impacted to know they are loved, known, and seen.
50,000 People that know there is someone with them in their battle. Standing alongside them. Praying for them. Holding them close.
50,000 People know that they have been armed with strength.
50,000 People who know they aren’t battling alone.
Original Goal
2025 Goal
Battle Pups Given
