Patient Experience

Wendi is the first person I called. I knew Wendi worked with M.D. Anderson in Houston and I knew she could give us some guidance. Wendi did so much more for my wife and my family. She personally stepped in to help us find the best oncology team available. She walked us through every step of the way. We had so many questions, as you can imagine, and Wendi took the time to try and answer our concerns or find out more about the situation for us. She would tell us how certain treatments or medicines might affect Laura, or step in to make sure Laura was getting every treatment possible to make her comfortable and pain free. It seemed like the better part of a year I was on the phone with Wendi almost everyday. She was always there to help me and to ease my anxiety. Wendi became more than a family friend, she became family. My wife Laura passed on July 31st, 2023. This was the most difficult experience of my life. I sincerely do not know how I could have managed to get through this traumatic situation without Wendi Martinez. It’s been almost two years since my wife’s passing and life continues moving forward. Wendi still messages me and calls me to see how my family and I are doing. Wendi Martinez is an incredible human. I thank God for all of her support and love through this life changing process.

During the summer of 2022 my good friend and coworker Jordan was taking his afternoon smoke break and I went outside with him to have a coffee break and chat with him. It was then that Jordan spit on the sidewalk and I observed he was spitting blood. I said, “brother that doesn’t look right and you really should go see the company nurse”. Jordan took my advice and went to visit the nurse who advised him to schedule an appointment with a doctor. Within a few weeks Jordan had several appointments with doctors and diagnostic labs which led to Jordan receiving a stage IV lung cancer diagnosis with an expectancy to live approximately 6- 12 months. Jordan’s office was next to mine and I was with him when he received his cancer diagnosis. Jordan was overwhelmed with all the next steps involved in managing his cancer treatment and I told him about my friend Wendi that just so happened to work for a major cancer hospital in the Houston Area. From the moment Wendi and Jordan connected they became fast friends and Wendi guided Jordan through the laborious details of setting up his patient portal account and processing all the required forms, scheduling many appointments, rides to / from, meals, etc. Jordan was a divorced empty nester with no family living local to him, Jordan was a private person, I visited him daily because I lived nearby and we worked together. Jordan didn’t have visitors beyond a few family members and close friends. I was part of that inner circle which gave me up close insight and I can’t imagine what Jordan’s final months would have been like without Wendi’s compassion and caring. Everything Wendi did for Jordan were all voluntary acts of kindness, she gave up her own personal time, professional talents, and personal resources to ensure Jordan maintained himself, his schedule, and his household though to the very end. In the final days I got a Sunday evening call from Wendi that I needed to come quickly to Jordan’s because he needed to get to the Emergency Room STAT. I was out of state at that moment so Wendi and I called my son (a fellow US Marine to Jordan and a local Police Officer) to head over to Jordan’s place for an expedited assist in loading Jordan into Wendi’s vehicle and getting him safely to the Emergency Room where she had friends and / coworkers ready to receive Jordan upon his arrival for the best possible care and comfort. Wendi knew Jordan’s time was near the end and as I drove in from out of state she had done her very best to prepare me via phone conversation to be strong for my tough old Marine buddy and brother in Christ! The fine healthcare professionals in the emergency room expedited getting Jordan from the ER and into a private room on a floor where he could find some level of comfort. Jordan was able to visit, take care of his final business and estate needs in accordance with his wishes, and pray with his family and closest friends in his final days of life. Jordan passed away in February of 2023 and a celebration of his life was held at the American Legion Post 521 in Pasadena, Texas with his final resting place being at the Houston National Cemetery in Houston, Texas. Wendi was both a sister in Christ and Guardian Angel to Jordan during his end stages of life, Jordan was constantly telling me how grateful he was for sending “Wendi the Angel” to guide him home. Wendi lived up to Jordan’s “SEMPER FI” expectations and beyond. We are all grateful for the blessings of Wendi. Sincerely, Keith DuPont