Winning in Every Field: Madison Martin
May 09, 2025
A Daughter’s Dedication and a Dream Realized
— Video by Elizabeth Perez
From the time she was a child, Madison Martin found herself drawn to the world of medicine.
Growing up in Florida, her earliest memories include visiting her mother’s medical office after school and watching her mother, a physician, care for patients. Years later, Madison would find herself a caregiver for her mom.
“When I was 11, my mom was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer,” Madison said. “As a result of her surgery, my mom was paralyzed in her arms, so she can't drive. In the beginning, there were a lot of questions as to what our lives were going to look like. My mom is a single mom, so it was really, really daunting in the beginning.”
“It was really difficult because they (Madison and her sister) had to help me with pretty much every activity of daily living when they were 10 and 11,” said Trina Martin, Madison’s mom.
But as time went on, Trina gained back some of her independence, learning how to use her left hand to do things like eating and writing.
“It was very humbling for me to go from caretaker to caregiver for them, and it was just a really big change in our family,” Trina said.
At 16, Madison legally became her mother’s legal caregiver.
“My weekly responsibilities are making sure she has all of her medications, all of her doctor's appointments, physical therapy. All of those things I've had to help her with since I was 16,” Madison said.
“We were already very tight and close, but you really realize what means most to you in life when something like that happens, which is your family,” said Trina.
— Photos by Katherine Seghers; volleyball photos provided by LSU Athletics
Madison continues to care for her mom while pursuing her degree and playing volleyball at LSU.
“It was a really big part of my decision: that my mom could move here with me and that I could still continue to take care of her as I was chasing all these crazy dreams of being pre-med and doing volleyball,” said Madison.
As a double major in biological sciences and Spanish, Madison balances practices, matches, travel, classes, caring for her mom, and making time to volunteer in the community.
“It’s been the honor of a lifetime. My mom is cancer-free, coming up on 10 years on June 1st. So, it has been absolutely incredible, and she's my best friend. I think it has shaped my entire purpose. I think a lot of times when people have a cancer diagnosis, they think it's just for the patient, but it's not. It's for their entire family and their entire life, and the empathetic side of things has made me become a better human and made me realize how precious and important life really is,” said Madison.
“ For me, all I could do was be very supportive of her classes and help her study. We stayed up many late nights. I was very blessed that she was in my wheelhouse, so we studied a lot together, and whatever advice or guidance I could give her along the way,” said Trina.
“LSU has given me the resources to do everything and accomplish my dream of becoming a physician.”
— Madison Martin
While she’s on the front lines for her mom’s care, in the volleyball team Madison plays on the back row as a DS libero. She was named captain her senior year and credits LSU for helping her every step of the way.
“My coaches have been extremely supportive and have supported all my crazy dreams of playing volleyball and doing pre-med. At LSU, I've had the absolute best academic advisors and support staff,” Madison said.
After she graduates in May, her next step is medical school.
“LSU has given me the resources to do everything and accomplish my dream of becoming a physician,” she said. “I'm very, very excited and so honored to be able to follow my mom's footsteps, but also to forge my own path into becoming a physician.”
“I get asked a lot: How does it feel to have Madi follow in my footsteps?” Trina said. “And I really don't think she is. I mean, medicine, yes, but she has done so much more than I have done. She has done volleyball and the volunteering and caretaking of her mother. So, she has already beyond made me so proud that she has done exactly what she set out to do and has never once lost focus.”
Next Step
LSU's Scholarship First Agenda is helping achieve health, prosperity, and security for Louisiana and the world.