Wednesday

Good Morning,

I wanted to let everyone know that the fundraiser will be in September as opposed to August 19th. We have had an overwhelming response from artists and local businesses who want to be involved and there needs to be more time for planning. I will let you all know when a date has been set. The fundraiser and silent auction will still be help at the Galeria Pergola. I am really excited about this and think it will be a wonderful evening! Thank you all for your interest and support in getting it together.

Beto had a difficult day yesterday. I think the shock begins to wear off and reality of the situation sets in and starts to fester with sadness a bit. Please feel free to give him a call or send him emails, as he needs encouraging words right now to keep his spirits high, especially as he approaches next week. mailto:beto@bici-burro.com

Meals is something that I need some help with. If anyone has ideas of places in SMA that deliver good food will you email me the name and contact info if you have it. Thank you!

Beto is so blessed to have such wonderful friends and I thank you again and again for that!

Much Love,
Natalie

Monday

Hi there,
I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! Many of you have asked about the art auction fundraiser. They are working hard on getting it together and as soon as I have the details, I will for sure let you know. Beto and my mother have been getting the paperwork together for the chemo, it is quite extensive, and are hoping for a start date of Monday now. The doctor feels that this will give enough healing time between the surgery and the first treatment. That is great news! Hopefully, if all goes as planned, they will be able to get the chemotherapy administered in Queretaro and not have to drive to Mexico City, which would be such a blessing. Beto went for a short walk yesterday which was huge! It was really good for him. I continue to get wonderful emails from all of you. Thank you. I will give you all more info. as I get it :)

Much Love,

Natalie

Saturday!

Our prayers have been answered! The PET scan revealed that the cancer has not spread! We are so thrilled. The cancer remains "active", but confined to the original area. The doctor wants to wait a few days to start the chemo due to Beto's slow recovery from the spinal surgery, but we are ready to begin. He will need 8 treatments total. Beto and mom will decide this weekend whether to receive the treatment in Mexico City or Queretaro. There are pro's and con's to each. I can't thank you enough for making this possible. I wish I could hug and thank each and every one of you personally for hours! This is such fabulous news. We know it is a long road ahead, but this is a good way to start it and STARTING IT is possible because of all of you.

Thank you and God bless all of you!!!

Much Love,

Natalie

P.S. I am in the mountains and do not have the best reception this weekend, so I am sorry if I am delayed in answering emails.

Good evening! 

I hope everyone is having a great week. Today my mother and Beto drove to Queretaro for the heart test, which went fine. It was a short test and they were able to get home before comida. I will be traveling over the weekend, but will for sure post results from the Saturday appointment as soon as I get word. Saturday is a big day! For better or worse, I do not have a ton of updates today. It was an afternoon of rest and visitors for Beto. Spirits remain high, as I know all of your emails and calls keep him uplifted. Thank you for that! Please pray for Saturday, as we need to start this treatment process. If you do not hear form me tomorrow, it is because I could not get Internet access. I will be in the mountains and am unsure about service. Otherwise, I will post Saturday without a doubt! 

Much Love,

Natalie

The Beto Martinez Fundraiser

I wanted to let you all know that we are having a fundraiser for Beto on Wednesday, August 19 at the Galeria Pergola. Many prominent artists are donating their work for a silent auction, as well as other items and services from local merchants. All proceeds with go to Beto's treatment. My husband and I will be in town for the event so I hope to meet a lot of you then! It will be a beautiful evening to come together, celebrate and raise money for a wonderful life! Thank you to Patti Bess for working so hard on getting this together and also to the Galeria Pergola for being such generous hosts. If any of you have questions about the fundraiser, just send me an email. 

No new information today on Beto. We are still keeping with the plan from yesterday for a Saturday chemotherapy start date. I hope you all are having a wonderful week. Thank you all for everything!

Much Love,

Natalie

Galeria Pergola

Inside the Instituto Allende
Ancha De San Antonio 20
San Miguel De Allende, GTO
Mexico 37700
T: 011 52 (415) 154 5595
T: (214) 245 4902
F: (214) 774 4512

I thought this was a great photo that Beto took in the countryside!

 

Well, some small changes. The cardiologist appointment was moved to Wednesday, because the machine they needed to use is not available in San Miguel, so they will have to go to Qeretaro for the heart test. The hematologist can not begin chemotherapy without this heart test, to ensure the heart is strong enough to start on Saturday, so that appointment was moved to Friday. Someone came to the house and collected blood to get that started for the Friday appointment, so we should be back on track after Friday. The hematologist said that once the heart test clears him, he will begin chemo Saturday morning! I am very excited for this and just hope that Beto takes the treatment well and his body is accepting. I feel like we have all come such a long way from last week, wow! It is exhausting to think about it and I am sure you all feel the same way :) We have all been going through this together and I thank you for being there for Beto, My mom and even me in many ways. I love getting email from all of you! This is where we stand as of now. I will fill you all in if anything changes, but let's pray for Saturday! 

Much Love,

Natalie

Good evening,

I just got off the phone with Beto and he sounded really good. We were laughing about his future nieto that is due in December and talking about this upcoming week, and how it will be difficult, but so important. With that being said, we spoke about how next week is possible because of all of your prayers and donations and how thankful we all are for that! He will go to the cardiologist tomorrow for some heart tests, but will be able to do that in San Miguel and not have to travel.  Thank you again for all your thoughts, encouraging emails and calls. More to come...

Much Love,

Natalie

I thought I would include a photo of our trusty buddy Robino tonight :) Beto and my mom returned from Qeuretaro this afternoon. Beto had the bone marrow biopsy and is resting well. The doctor said that if he found cancer in the bone marrow, he would call and if no cancer was found in the marrow, they would not hear from him tonight. So far, no call from the doctor!!!!!! This is wonderful! They will See him again Wednesday to go over the tests from Mexico City and determine the exact day for treatment, hopefully the same day. This is all I have for now, but wanted to share with everyone the good news from today! Thank you all for your continued support and kind emails. I know I keep saying this, but Beto and my mother have incredible friends.

Much love to you all,

Natalie

I wanted to give you all an update for the day. Beto has been resting well all day and had some wonderful visitors. They will see the hematologist tomorrow in Queretaro for a bone marrow biopsy and then back to the hematologist probably Wednesday when the test results from Mexico City (telling us where the cancer has spread) will be available. The hematologist will know more about the exact day to start chemo after their follow-up appointment on Wednesday, but they are thinking for sure next week. Tomorrow is just for the bone marrow test. Please pray that Beto's body is strong and had progress healing from the surgery so they can start chemo Wednesday.

I want to thank everyone for making this chemo next week possible. Without all of you it would not be. You are truly an amazing group of people and the reason this treatment is happening. Thank you does not even begin to cover it. I wish there was something I could do for each and every one of you. That is all I have for now, but will post after the appointment tomorrow.

God Bless,

Natalie

Thank you!

I wanted to thank you for the emails today. I have forwarded them on to Beto so he can feel encouraged. I spoke with him on his way back from Mexico City and he sounded good! He is very moved by all of your support. They will have the test results in 48 hours, thus causing the doctor to re-schedule his appointment to Wednesday. Please pray that the tests show that the cancer has not spread and is isolated. Thank you all for a wonderful day!

Natalie

Good Morning!

Beto and my mom are currently at the doctor getting the tests done, which will reveal where the cancer has spread in the body. I will let you all know as soon as I hear anything.

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone, as I have received such an amazing response. Beto has wonderful friends and I know he loves you all dearly, as I hear about many of you often! I thought that it was important that you all knew what we are trying to raise for the chemotherapy. The hematologist gave us the number $100,000 for getting through the treatment plan. I am absolutely thrilled to say that we have raised $11,200 thus far! One donation was $10,000 which is incredible!! Thank you so very much to this dear friend. I know that most of us are feeling some sort of cruch financially during these times, so it really means a lot. The prayers are just as important so thank you for all of the lovely emails expressing your thoughts.

Thank you all,

Natalie
970.443.7840
natalie123@mac.com

HOW TO DONATE

We currently have a private account set up for Beto if you would like to mail in a check. Please make checks payable to The 'Beto" Martinez Medical Fund PO BOX 1 Corona, NM 88318.

I will keep you updated on other ways to donate as they become available.

Again, if you have questions regarding these donations, please call and I will be happy to give you information about the bank and the donation process.

Natalie

natalie123@mac.com

Day 3

Who is Natalie Smith... I wanted to clear up who I was, as many of you have asked. I am Anita Middleton's daughter. Beto is my step-father and good friend. I thank you all for your speedy responses and prayers for Beto thus far. They are on their way to Mexico City for the test that will let us know exactly where the cancer has spread in the body.  I will post an update as soon as I have one. As always, please contact me with any questions or concerns.

Natalie

natalie123@mac.com

970.443.7840

Day 2

Beto and my mother went to the specialist today and were told the news that the cancer has reached stage 4 and chemotherapy is needed immediately. They would like to wait a few days to start in order to give him the opportunity to heal a bit more from the spinal surgery. Please pray for a speedy recovery from the surgery so 'Beto' can receive the chemo as soon as possible. He and my mother are traveling to Mexico City tomorrow for extended testing that will show where and to what other parts of the body the cancer has spread. Please pray for good news on this report as well and for safe travels. 

Natalie

The First Day

Today I started the 'Beto' Martinez Medical Fund. The Fund was created to give financial support to 'Beto' in his fight against Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Beto is my step-father and married to my mother, Anita Middleton. I am overwhelmingly moved by the support, thoughts and prayers that have already come in. I am so thankful for those who helped me get the fund off the ground. Thank you to Janet Kafka, Donna Brenner Bando, and Z for making all this possible. I hope you all check back with us often to see how your donations are helping Beto live and fight this battle. I will be updating weekly (if not more often) to let you all know exactly what your donations are helping with that month. 

HOW TO DONATE:

You can donate online through the website or by phone at 970.443.7840

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions about your donations. I am happy to help! Please spread the word.

ABOUT BETO:

Alberto Martinez is 46 years young. He is a strong mountain biking professional and loves the mountains, hiking and sharing his knowledge of the culture and history of the area on the famous tours he gives his clients. He loves the land and respects the planet and all its inhabitants large and small.

Beto is a wonderful son who provides for his Mother and Father. He is an uncle that teaches his nieces and nephews as if they were his own about biking, the environment, working hard, and the importance of giving back and generosity.

He loves all people and helps the poor and underprivileged, always offering a helping hand when needed and donating his time and knowledge to children and archaeological groups. A true humanitarian, Beto needs our help now. Please give to the ‘Beto’ Martinez Medical Fund and help save a wonderful life.

God Bless you all.

Natalie