Family wishing for a Christmas miracle

MISHAWAKA, Ind. -- Christmas is right around the corner and kids are all making their lists for Santa, but for four kids in Mishawaka, there is only one thing on their wish list. They want their mom to be cancer-free.

“I just want my kids to have a great Christmas, because I do not know if it will be my last,” said Kelly Martindale.

While other parents are spending their December buying Christmas gifts for their kids, Martindale is just trying to stay alive long enough to spend the holiday with her four kids ages three to eleven.

“She said that it was already too late. It was stage four,” said Martindale.

Martindale has been fighting her stage four cancer for three years.

It has spread to her kidneys, lungs and abdomen.  

In March the doctor told her she only had 2-6 months to live.

“It was heartbreaking,” said Martindale.

It was heartbreaking not only for Martindale, but her four children and her mother Jane Nickles.

“I was devastated. I could not believe it,” said Nickles.

Nickles has been taking care of her daughter every step of the way.

“I do not want to leave her side. I want to be here. I want her to know her mommy is always going to be here for her,” said Nickles.

It has been eight months since she got that terrifying news and Martindale is still fighting even though she is in hospice.

She plans on doing another round of chemo to prolong her life until Christmas in hopes that maybe she’ll be granted that Christmas miracle.