Emily Progin, Content Manager
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MAN SEEKS HELP ONE YEAR AFTER GROUNDBREAKING TRANSPLANT
Fundraising Will Help Marty Kedian After Larynx Transplant
BOSTON, Mass.—One year ago, Marty Kedian became the first person in history to receive a larynx transplant to fight cancer. The procedure literally gave Marty back his voice—and the hope for a brighter, healthier future. Today, Marty’s community is rallying to provide financial support at a time of need as Marty deals with post-transplant complications that have required urgent out-of-pocket medical travel.
“I was alive, but I wasn’t living.” That’s how Marty described his life following a 2013 larynx cancer diagnosis. A lifelong nonsmoker, Marty was blindsided by the diagnosis. Marty was facing removal of his voice box to fight the cancer’s spread and grappling with depression around losing his ability to participate in family life, breathe normally, and simply talk to his own granddaughter.
That’s when his wife Gina’s diligent research paid off. They qualified for a groundbreaking program at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona. In February 2024, Marty became the fifth person ever to receive a larynx transplant and the first person ever to receive such a transplant while living with cancer.
Marty has regained 60% of his voice and his ability to swallow and breathe independently. However, over the past month, Marty has had to make an emergency trip from his home in Boston to Mayo Clinic in Phoenix for follow-up care to monitor potential signs of transplant rejection—a medical challenge most transplant recipients face.
Marty and Gina are in need of urgent financial help to cover the out-of-pocket cost of this emergency medical travel. They are asking the community to donate through the trusted nonprofit Help Hope Live at: https://helphopelive.org/campaign/21064/
“His bloodwork is looking better,” Gina reported from Mayo Clinic on Facebook. “We appreciate every single one of you for your prayers, love, and positive vibes.”
The community’s generosity helped to fund Marty and Gina’s temporary relocation to Arizona for the transplant last year. With continued emotional and financial support, Marty and Gina are holding onto hope.
“This past year has been filled with triumphs and setbacks, hope and hardship,” Gina explained. “Marty’s larynx transplant has given him a second chance at a voice, a gift we will never take for granted. However, the road to recovery is far from over. Your support gives us hope and strength.”
Unlike a GoFundMe campaign, donations to Help Hope Live are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law, and all funds raised will be administered by the nonprofit to cover verified medical and related expenses. Help Hope Live verifies medical and financial need for every patient.
Help Hope Live is a national nonprofit that specializes in engaging communities in secure, tax-deductible fundraising campaigns for people who need a transplant or are affected by a catastrophic injury or illness. Since 1983, campaigns organized by Help Hope Live have raised over $188 million to pay patient expenses. ###
