Martin D Kedian
“My first job is to get better. My next job is to tell everyone they can do it, too.”
In February, our client Marty Kedian became part of a groundbreaking transplant procedure through Mayo Clinic.
His journey began in 2013 when struggling to swallow his food led him to a doctor visit that resulted in a shocking diagnosis: cancer of the larynx. Marty was a lifelong non-smoker.
“It was a shock. It was devastating.”
In 2014, Marty’s first surgery of dozens took place. The surgeries left him unable to breathe on his own and barely able to speak at a raspy whisper.
“I was alive, but I wasn’t living.”
Marty was told his last option was the total removal of his voice box. He declined, feeling hopeless about the possibility of a drastically reduced quality of life.
“I wanted to be able to talk to my granddaughter with my own voice, play with her in the yard, take her to baseball games, and breathe normally.”
That’s when his wife’s diligent research paid off.
Gina Kedian found a groundbreaking program at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, and in August 2022, Marty became a candidate for a larynx transplant.
Marty would become one of less than five people in the U.S. to undergo a larynx transplant.
Because he had already received a kidney transplant in the past and was taking post-transplant medications, Marty was able to circumvent a big barrier to eligibility: dealing with unforeseen impacts of anti-rejection medications.
On February 29, 2024, the 21-hour landmark procedure took place—and Marty successfully received a larynx transplant. It was the first known case of such a transplant being performed on an individual actively living with cancer.
Marty is now an example of how this rare procedure could be a safe and effective source of hope for other patients.
In June 2024, Marty reported that he had regained the use of 60% his voice and his ability to swallow and breathe independently. He was able to return home within five months of the transplant.
The results exceeded even his transplant team’s expectations.
“The case signifies a monumental breakthrough.”
Fundraising with Help Hope Live has been a key part of Marty’s journey since 2022, assisting with transplant-related expenses including temporary relocation to Arizona.
