Family and friends of Esther Martinez are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with transplantation.

March 28, 2023

Esther is now home in Manitowoc!! She has a long way to go, but she is doing well. The physical therapist is coming this afternoon, which is a good thing. She has begun walking in our hallway (with her walker), and is going farther each day. All of this is a new lifestyle for all of us, and we don't always get it right, but we are doing our best.

March 27, 2023

We are thrilled to share that Esther has a new heart!

She came out of surgery on March 2nd just after the turn of midnight and has been well on her road to recovery since then. Her parents were with her from the moment the call came through to the mad dash to the hospital, the waiting for surgery to be done and then the days of careful monitoring in her ICU room as tubes came out and tests were done and everyone commented on how well she was recovering. The move to a regular cardiac unit room was welcome as was the time and education all of the nurses offered to Esther as she begins the process of establishing new routines of daily care for herself and her new heart.

Her age had quite a lot to do with. Also, Esther has spent years with little energy at her disposal and little knowledge of why, and I suspect that finally feeling how much more she could feel than just tired all of the time played a huge part in her recovery at the hospital, and will continue to fuel her into a lively and bright future.

The hospital guest house was a balm to the whole family, situated so close to the hospital, and with enough room for her parents to stay together and maintain some normalcy during an experience that is anything but predictable and stable.