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MARTHA'S LAST MILE
ESCAMBIA COUNTY - Martha Russell is a local woman we are following as she deals with Stage Four breast cancer.
Martha contacted us and invited us to document her.
This morning... we meet her faithful caregivers and see what role friendship plays in a crisis.
Channel Three's Kathryn Daniel continues Martha's Last Mile.
Martha Russell says she used to think of herself as a pretty tough cookie.
((Martha Russell; "Through the years, different things have happened that have taught me I ain't so great, I ain't so strong."))
She needs her friends now more than ever.
Martha met Kay Goodman at church camp more than 40 years ago.
((Kay Goodman; "She's my sister. I'm an only child and Martha's my only sister."))
Best friend, business partner -- and now head spiritual cheerleader.
((Kay Goodman; "Right now I think one of the biggest parts of my role is to keep encouraging her faith."))
As her oldest friend, she was quick to tell us -- she did *not* like our series title.
((Kay Goodman; "I don't believe it should be entitled Martha's Last Mile. I was hoping for something, maybe even Sheila suggested it, something more like, "Martha's Miracle" would be great."))
When Hurricane Ivan destroyed Sheila Bunch's home...Martha offered her a room in her house.
The fellow church members became close friends and longtime roommates...
((Sheila Bunch; "Living here, helping her basically 24/7. Just meeting whatever needs she has."))
"To me that's the greatest thing is to be able to help someone and when they need it the most and I feel like it's been a blessing."))
((Martha Goodman; "Sheila's a very loving person, a very giving, selfless person."))
((Sheila Bunch; "She tells me, I'm having a bad day and cry, we cry. We laugh a lot more than we cry."))
Martha's other crucial caregiver is Zeke..
He always stays between Martha and whomever comes to her bedside.
((Martha Russell; "He knows when I'm not feeling good faster than I do."))
Martha says different friends are for separate seasons of ones' life;
Kay and Sheila working together are getting her through the winter of hers.
((Martha Russell; "The harmony that we show in our voices is the harmony that we have in our hearts for each other."))
Kathryn Daniel, Channel Three News
