Martin Needs Our Help!

February 6, 2018

Marty received his new heart on December 18th. He spent five days on a breathing machine in the ICU because at first his new heart didn’t want to beat on its own. After five days, Marty’s heart stared to beat and Marty was woken from sedation. Since the surgery he has experienced some complications that have landed back in the hospital a few times. He has had a rough start to his recovery, but his resolve is strong, he fights to improve each day, and he still has not lost his sense of humor.

December 6, 2017

Marty is currently in the hospital at UCLA. He has a blood clot in his LVAD and is being given aggressive medications to thin his blood in an effort to prevent the clot from enlarging. The major concern at this time is Marty suffering a stroke as a result of the blood clot. His doctors are monitoring him closely and he has been moved up on the transplant list to 1A status. He will remain in the hospital until a donor heart becomes available.

November 5, 2017

Marty is fast approaching the three year mark of being on the heart transplant list. It has been a challenging journey for Marty living dependent on the LVAD as he waits for his new organ. He continues to remain positive and lives his life to the fullest everyday, despite the numerous challenges. Over the past six months, he has had some health setbacks due to complications with the LVAD, but a strong mind and an endless desire to persevere and be the best husband for his wife and father for his three girls, allows him to keep the fight going.

May 23, 2017

It's been two and a half years on the waiting list and Marty continues to wait for a new heart. Although it has been a difficult journey, he remains extremely positive and grateful to be alive. Every day he gets to spend with Lizzy and the girls is a blessing. He continues to be an advocate for organ donation awareness and recently became a Patient Ambassador for St. Jude Medical. During Marty's free time he meets with patients who have recently been diagnosed with Congestive Heat Failure and gives them positive advice about living with an LVAD as a bridge to transplant.

February 22, 2017

Marty is currently number 16 on the transplant waiting list. His two and half year anniversary living with the LVAD is quickly approaching. The Vece family continues to fundraise in preparation for "the call." When Marty get the call for his new heart, he will need to be on a medical leave of absence from work for at least one year. For the first six months after the surgery, he will have to stay in Los Angeles to remain close to the hospital for recovery. Your generous donations will help the Vece family pay for housing, food, and much needed medications while they fight their way through the first year of recovery without any income.

November 6, 2016

Marty's latest news feature.

November 6, 2016

Marty has moved up on the transplant list to number 18. We are quickly approaching the two year anniversary of Marty's LVAD surgery. He continues to remain positive and use his limited energy to promote awareness about organ donation. Please continue to donate. Your generous donations help the Vece family stay financially afloat by helping alleviate the tremendous burden of monthly uninsured medical costs. A financial breakdown of monthly medical expenses can be viewed by scrolling down to the February 10th, 2016 update post.

September 21, 2016

On September 17th, Marty was a guest speaker at Nevada Donor Network's Annual Donor Remembrance Ceremony. Marty continues to use his limited energy to raise public awareness about the importance of organ donation.

August 1, 2016

Please join Marty and his beautiful Wife Lizzy for their upcoming fundraiser at Pinot's Palette at Boca Park on Friday, August 12th. Bring your significant other, friends, family, or all three for what is sure to be a fun evening of paining, drinking wine, and lots of smiling. Reserve your spot to paint by going to https://www.pinotspallette.com/bocapark/event/110274

July 11, 2016

On July 1st, Marty met with Nevada Congressman Joe Heck to discuss the lack of transplant facilities in Nevada, as well as eleven other states. The meeting went very well as Marty and the Congressman discussed several issues of concern including, private and state insurance covering transplants out of state, funding for families that have to travel out of state, and raising awareness nationwide about organ donation. Marty continues on his quest to raise awareness about organ donation and helping others. He has recently reached out to several national news tv programs as well as Ellen Degeneres. He is anxiously awaiting responses.

February 11, 2016

FINANCIAL BREAKDOWN OF MONTHLY UNINSURED MEDICAL COSTS:

LVAD Device - $1800

Medications - $606

Local Doctor Visits and Bloodwork co-pays - $180

Medical Supplies for Cleaning my Driveline Site - $214

UCLA Follow up Clinic Appointment every six weeks (travel & co-pays for visit, testing, and bloodwork) $360

Your generous donations, no matter how large or small, make a difference in Marty's life and the lives of his wife and girls. With each donation, he can take a step closer to receiving a new heart!!!

February 1, 2016

As of January 1st, 2016, Marty's teacher's insurance has adopted a new policy in which the patient is responsible for a 30% co-insurance cost for treatments and medications. The co-pay for Marty's most important medication, responsible for keeping his lungs healthy, has increased from $9 a month to $328. This is only one of his 27 medications. Without this particular medication, Marty's pressures in his lungs will increase to a dangerous level and he will additionally need a lung transplant along with the heart. This medication is imperative for him to have. Please continue to donate to help Marty and his family manage the costs of this devastating disease and insure that sometime in the short future, he receives a new heart.

November 25, 2015

Marty's news feature on the ABC local news.

http://www.ktnv.com/news/health/canyon-springs-teacher-seeking-a-new-heart

October 29, 2015

Marty has been on the waiting list for 11 months now. In the last month he has dropped from number 22 on the list to number 28. Because Marty has an LVAD, his is listed as 1B status. People who are hospitalized are listed at 1A status. The reason why he fluctuates on the list and can actually drop depends on how many "very sick and hospitalized' are on the list at one particular time. In other words, even though Marty has been on the list for 11 months, if someone tomorrow develops a heart condition, is near death, and is hospitalized, that person will automatically be listed ahead of Marty. For Marty to get a heart, a perfect match for Marty would need to come in and bypass everyone listed at 1A status (because that particular heart is not a good fit for each of them), Marty would then need to be at the top of the 1B status list or be near the top and have to donor heart bypass the 1B's that are ahead of Marty for the same reason as the 1As. Then and only then, Marty will get the call for the heart.

October 7, 2015

Marty's article in Addison's "MySuburbanlife" newspaper.

http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/2015/08/27/addison-native-awaits-heart-transplant/aserhlq/?t=Addison+native+awaits+heart+transplant

October 7, 2015

Marty's article in VegasSeven magazine.

http://vegasseven.com/2015/08/12/one-teachers-message-heart/

October 7, 2015

Marty is out of the hospital and for the time being, he doesn't need gallbladder surgery. Even though he has gallbladder stones, the doctors are apprehensive about performing a surgery while he has the LVAD. If the condition gets worse, they will revisit the idea of surgery.

July 26, 2015

After a two day stay in the hospital, Marty is back home with his family. Adjustments needed to be made on his medications. His blood thickened to a point where he was extremely susceptible to blood clots forming and possibly causing strokes. His blood thinning medicine was adjusted and his numbers are back in the normal range. Thank you for all of your prayers and positive thoughts while he was in ICU.

July 18, 2015

Listen to Marty's live radio with Ava Kaufman on ESPN radio.

http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=13122116

July 18, 2015

Watch Marty dance with his LVAD acting silly at Venice Beach.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHQGnKgqUaA

July 18, 2015

Marty and his family's story are featured in the following documentary based on organ donation.

http://lavoice.ascjportfolio.org/

July 18, 2015

Read Marty's Father's Day Super Dad article for ESPN at:

http://www.everyjoe.com/2015/06/19/lifestyle/super-dad-marty-parenting-while-waiting-heart-transplant/

July 17, 2015

July 12th was Marty's seven month anniversary of being on the transplant list. He is currently number 38 on the list. Marty continues to keep positive and is staying active by walking 30 minutes a day. He hopes to get up to 1 hour by the end of next month.