At Faulk Health Partners, we believe in healing that transforms — not just the body, but the mind and soul. That belief runs deep in the heart of our founder, Wendi Martinez, whose own journey through trauma and recovery became the foundation for the work we do today.
A few years ago, Wendi’s life changed in an instant.
It was the last weekend of spring break, and she was spending time with her sister at a ranch in East Texas. Her grandchildren were visiting, and the weekend had been filled with peace, fun, and the kind of family time that fills your cup. After helping care for an injured horse, Wendi agreed to a quick ride in the UTV with her grandkids.
They didn’t make it far.
As they turned a corner, the UTV flipped into a deep ditch, landing on top of Wendi. Her grandchildren were miraculously unharmed, but Wendi was left unconscious, pinned beneath the vehicle. She briefly remembers waking to the sound of her sister screaming her name — and then nothing until the next day, when she opened her eyes in a hospital, intubated, restrained, and unsure of how she got there.
As a nurse, Wendi immediately understood the severity of her condition. Her injuries included a fractured sternum, broken clavicle, collapsed lungs, and 45 rib fractures — some shattered in multiple places, creating what’s known as flail chest. The situation was dire. Every breath risked further puncture to her lungs.
Doctors enrolled her in a clinical trial for rib plating surgery — a radical procedure using titanium strips to stabilize shattered ribs. The risk was great, and the recovery even greater. But while waiting for surgery, Wendi had a vivid dream — a spiritual encounter she would never forget. She found herself in a room with Peter and Paul, with an angel at her side. They told her not to worry. She would be alright.
And she was.
The surgery was successful. But her fight wasn’t over. A serious back infection would require many more surgeries and a long hospital stay. Her physical strength was tested again and again, but her spirit stayed grounded — not in fear, but in faith.
What makes Wendi’s story extraordinary isn’t just her survival — it’s the transformation that followed.
In the hospital, Wendi realized how much she had been carrying. Years earlier, she had served as an administrator at MD Anderson during the height of the COVID-19 crisis, making impossible decisions about patient visitation. She’d grown weary, disconnected from her faith, and overwhelmed by the weight of others’ suffering.
This accident — and the healing that followed — became her wake-up call.
“God broke down what I had built for myself… all the way down to where I had to be totally dependent on Him,” Wendi said. “It was not only redemptive for my body — it was redemptive for my soul.”
Wendi emerged from that season changed. Her priorities shifted. Her faith deepened. And her purpose became crystal clear: to use her voice, her story, and her medical background to help others who are struggling — physically, mentally, or spiritually.
She founded Faulk Health Partners with a mission rooted in compassion, community, and care that goes beyond surface-level treatment. Every service we offer is influenced by Wendi’s belief that healing must address the whole person.
Today, she continues to lead with wisdom, heart, and humility. She serves her community, supports people walking through their own valleys, and never forgets to stop and listen to the birds outside her window — a simple joy she says she never noticed before.
Wendi’s story is more than a testimony — it’s a call to action. To slow down. To listen. To heal. And to believe that even in our darkest moments, something greater is being written.
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