Arthur Martinot

Arthur is recovering from a spinal cord injury and needs your help!

While on vacation with friends and family on July 19th, 2022 on the coast of Spain, Arthur was in a serious swimming accident that fractured the C6-C7 vertebrae in his neck. After being taken by ambulance one hour to the Vall d’Hebron Hospital in Barcelona, Arthur underwent emergency surgery, and woke to face paralysis from his chest down. After six weeks of recovery, his diagnosis was updated to “incomplete,” a thrilling change; he is quadriplegic with limited use of his fingers and hands. He spent 3 months working hard in rehabilitation, in-patient treatment at the Catalonian Institut Guttmann, where he gained the strength to sit up independently, use a slide-board to transfer to and from his wheelchair, and manage certain self-care routines. He is now living at home in Pomona, CA, after attending Day Treatment rehab at Casa Colina in Pomona as well as The Perfect Step, a paralysis recovery center, during his first year back in the US. He gets stronger day by day, engages more muscles, recovers more sensations, and is, in his own words, “certain to continue to make progress.”

A passionate surfer and explorer, Arthur has often been referred to as “The Gazelle” for how he effortlessly climbs literal mountains. With his beloved wife Megan, he has built a life filled with friends, desert camping trips and his cats Gem and Thunder in Los Angeles. An entrepreneur and designer, Arthur has built and created high-end film and photo sets for advertising as well as residential outdoor spaces with native plants that are beautiful and sustainable.

While no longer in the acute phase of recovery, there are still many “firsts” awaiting Arthur post-accident. He is now driving solo, getting himself to and from appointments, and to his new passion, wheelchair rugby (or murder ball as it is often referred to). He is an active ambassador for the Triumph Foundation, meeting newly-injured people in the hospital and offering support and advice. He continues to build strength and keep up with supportive therapies all the while tackling daily living in his new body and new life. Though much more settled, the needs for equipment, supplies, and care have not diminished.

Your tax-deductible donation to Help Hope Live will help support Arthur and his wife with the heavy financial cost of continuous recovery services and day-to-day life with SCI. With your help, they can focus on Arthur regaining his independence and autonomy, resume his career, and even get back in the ocean!

Arthur chose to fundraise for Help Hope Live in part because Help Hope Live assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility for contributors. Contributors can be sure donations will be used to pay or reimburse medical and related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the Give button.

For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.

Thank you for your support!