Oklahoma Family Rallies Around 4-Year-Old Boy Battling Cancer

Four-year-old Jett Martinez, a playful and energetic boy who loves Spider-Man, Transformers, and playing outside with his brothers and dogs, is battling a rare kidney cancer known as Wilms tumor, or nephroblastoma.

Jett’s journey began in November when he complained of a stomach ache. His mother, noticing a lump on his side, took him to the emergency room, where scans revealed a tumor on his kidney.

“They found the mass tumor on his kidney,” his mother recalled. Specialists confirmed it was Wilms tumor, a form of cancer with a relatively high treatment success rate.

“It’s weird to say you’re thankful about something with cancer, but it was the better prognosis.”

In October, surgeons successfully removed the tumor, and Jett has been undergoing chemotherapy since.

“He does good once we get there, but it's really hard each morning when he says, ‘Mama, is it a hospital day? Do I have to do chemo today,’” his mother said. “Jett's so thankful when it's not, and when it is, we have some tears—but once we get there, he knows the process now.”

Despite the challenges, Jett has shown resilience, maintaining his signature energy and optimism. He has told his parents he wants to become a doctor when he grows up to help others by taking their “bumps” out.

This Christmas Eve, Jett will undergo another round of chemotherapy, underscoring the family’s focus on cherishing holiday moments together.

“When you see your baby laying in a hospital bed and they can’t play with you, and you can't take away the pain and stuff [...] it makes you want to go back home and be able to play with them all those times they asked you to,” his mother said.

Jett’s treatment will continue for another five to six months, but his family is holding onto hope and gratitude for the medical care he has received.

“It’ll be a truly home-for-the-holidays type of year,” his mother added.

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