WAILUA HOMESTEADS — Hundreds of Kauaians have more compassion and love for one another because of Gini Martin. The preschool teacher’s school walls are covered with decades of group photos of children who spent their formative years with her. “I
WAILUA HOMESTEADS — Hundreds of Kauaians have more compassion and love for one another because of Gini Martin.
The preschool teacher’s school walls are covered with decades of group photos of children who spent their formative years with her.
“I would teach them that ‘sharing is caring’ and ‘don’t break people’s hearts’ and ‘treat everybody fairly,’” said Martin, the owner of the Merry-Go-Round preschool.
As many as a dozen children each year between the ages of 2 years, 8 months and 5 years would be dropped off each morning and stay with Martin for up to 10 hours a day.
“At the end of the day, I’d give them a hug goodbye and they would often say, ‘Leave me alone aunty,’” recalls Martin with a laugh.
Her commitment to the preschool was relentless, even when she was diagnosed with stage one ductal carcinoma.
“I never felt a lump and neither did my doctor,” said Martin.
But a mammogram at Wilcox Memorial Hospital spotted a mass in her right breast.
A biopsy confirmed the suspicion. Martin needed surgery and six weeks of radiation treatments.
“I remember the nurse that was doing the biopsy saying, ‘We don’t have to die from breast cancer anymore,’” Martin recalled, which was reassuring to hear as Martin’s mother died from breast cancer in 1984.
“Her problem was that she felt a lump and went into denial and did not get treatment immediately,” Martin said.
Martin started getting mammograms at age 35, earlier than the American Cancer Society’s typical 40-year-old recommended age.
One of Martin’s teenage daughters, Karlee, a graduate of Kapaa High School, was there for her during the radiation treatments.
“I’m grateful I was on Oahu going to college and not far away,” said Karlee. “My mom’s needs and emotions became a priority for me and I looked forward to being there for her.”
Every night after tending to her Merry-Go-Round students, Martin’s husband Steve would drive Martin to Lihue airport, where she would fly to Oahu for radiation treatments and stay the night with Karlee.
“It was fun having slumber parties in my apartment with my mommy every night,” remembered Karlee.
And every morning after treatment, Martin would return to Kauai and pick up her life right where she left off.
“I almost felt like I was on my own merry-go-round of sorts,” said Martin about the six weeks when she would return from Oahu the next morning to continue her preschool responsibilities.
Martin defeated cancer 10 years ago and upped her devotion in the ongoing battle to find a cure. She volunteered for the ACS putting in countless hours to raise money for the cause.
In 2005, she co-chaired fundraising efforts totaling more than $170,000. She is also in her 12th year participating with the Crabs Conqueror’s team during the annual fundraising Relay for Life event each fall.
Today, Karlee is a mother of two children herself and a Marriott Vacation Club sales executive.
“Adversity is something we will all have to deal with at some point in our lives and thanks to her I will face it head on and always try to be kind and positive along the way,” she said about her mother.
On a regular basis, Martin bumps into her grown students around the island, who invite her to their graduations, or sees a grateful parent at the grocery store whose child she taught.
“I’m blessed to able to do this business and do what I love to do,” she said.
This is an ongoing weekly feature in The Garden Island. It focuses on everyday people who reflect the spirit that makes Kauai the place it is today.
If you know a person you would like to see featured in The Garden Island, who is lokomaikai, email Lisa Ann Capozzi at lcapozzi@thegardenisland.com
