Martin Vece

Martin Needs Our Help!

My name is Lizzy Vece. Marty is my 47 year old husband and after a three year wait on the transplant list, this past December, he finally received received his new heart. It was the greatest Christmas present our family could have ever imagined. Since the transplant Marty has struggled with complications but he continues to remain positive and fight every day.

Prior to the transplant, Marty was dependent upon an LVAD (a mechanical implanted heart pump), in order to remain alive.

The day before Thanksgiving of this past year, during his routine check-up and tests, his team of doctors at UCLA Medical Center admitted him because of a blood clot inside his LVAD. Because of this very dangerous situation, the team of doctors made the decision to keep him in the hospital until a donor heart became available. We were anticipating a wait of up to four to six months, but after three weeks Marty got the call for his precious gift.

We live in Las Vegas and Marty is a high school teacher. I was a dancer in a show on the Las Vegas Strip until having our third child. For the past four years I have been a full time caregiver, while pursuing multiple part- time employment opportunities. We have three girls, Ava, 10, Lucia, 9, and Rosie, 4. My 79 year old father, Lowell,  lives with us as well, which is such a blessing. He is able to help with the girls a little, while I work part time; and I offer him support after the devastating loss of my mom two years ago. Thankfully, he is also able to provide us some income from retirement pension.

Marty is currently on a medical leave of absence from work for at least 9-12 months. We have applied for social security disability, which, with our three daughters will be roughly 1,000/month. However, that money will be needed to cover our health insurance premium that the school district will stop paying once Marty is on leave.

We have been been fundraising for the past three years to help pay down the medical bills and moving expenses from his LVAD surgery in 2014, when we very unexpectedly had to relocate our entire family to the LA area in order for him to have the life saving surgery.

Fortunately, we have been blessed with many donations, but realistically,  its practically impossible to be prepared for something of this magnitude. Although we’ve prayed for this time to come, along with it comes much added stress, when the most important concern is and should be – Marty’s health.

Right now, we need to raise funds for travel back and forth from Las Vegas to UCLA, post transplant as Marty must stay near his doctors for three months of follow up care.. This time will prove difficult for me to keep up on our monthly bills, let alone extras.  Additionally, the first year after transplant for Marty will be critical. The concern will be rejection of the new organ. Because of this, and the danger of enormous amounts of germs Marty will encounter as a school teacher, he will remain on medical leave for up to one year as he recovers. His donor heart will be our priority.

I have tried to break down in numbers what will keep my family safe and at peace during this struggle, so that we have a clear fundraising goal. Thank you for your support and prayers.

Total Fundraising Goal:  $25,070

Approximate Breakdown:

Pre-transplant (possibly 4 months)
For Lizzy and girls
Travel lodging: 3200
Gas: 960
Food: 1600
***We have already exuasted all of our financial resources just to carry us through the pre-transplant stage.

Post-transplant (required 3 months Marty must remain in LA near his doctors)
For Lizzy and girls and Marty
Travel lodging: 9600
Gas: 720
Food: 2400

Post-transplant (Once Marty returns home for but must travel back each month to UCLA for follow up care during the first year of recovery).

Travel for follow ups and biopsies: 2670

Post-transplant addition expenses for Lizzy and girls while Marty is on leave (10 months)
Extra expenses above and beyond necessary bills: 4000