Please give Martina A Chance for a "Bear"able Life!

Martina Danielle Natoli came into this world 14 years ago with a massive bowel obstruction. Although her prognosis was poor Martina was a little fighter. She underwent surgery when she was six hours old. This was the beginning of the hold that Cystic Fibrosis would have on her life. After three more surgeries and a three and a half months stay at CHKD, Martina beat the odds and came home.



Martina has been an inspiration to her family and friends. She fought for her first breath and continues to fight for each breath as she waits for a double lung transplant. Her diseased lungs are caused from the thick mucus that engulfs them, making breathing labored. It is rapidly deteriorating her lungs. Her lung function has been as low as 27%. The transplant level is 30%, making her a candidate to be put on the waiting list for lungs. Now that she has been put on the list it could be up to two years before she gets her lung transplant. The lungs have got to be compatible to her body, age and size. When she comes closer to transplantation, she will need to be relocated within 30 minutes from the hospital in Richmond. This will require room and board in that area. Further, her mother will need to take a leave of absence to be there with her before surgery and four months after it is completed. This will result in a loss of wages for the family as well as maintaining two households during this time. A year after the transplant Martina will need to be home schooled because of her impaired immune system. As you can see, the road that Martina and her family will undergo is going to be a difficult one but with love and perseverance they are willing to take the journey.



The deadly mucus works its way through other systems as well. She has constant diarrhea and must take multiple medications every time that she eats. In addition there are other expensive medications for this disease. Her nutritional status is poor. She recently underwent surgery to implant a permanent feeding tube directly into her stomach. This allows for administration of high caloric tube feedings. Tube feedings are required to drip through the night with frequent vomiting due to her weak digestive system. After months of titrating and adjusting, she is now able to tolerate the tube feedings better. After going through painful surgery the insurance company has now rejected her claims for the supplies and the tube feeding, making this an additional financial strain on the family. She weighs 59 pounds and yet the insurance company states that because she is able to eat they will no longer provide tube feedings for her. Granted, but it is impossible for her to eat the calories that she needs to sustain her. These tube feedings are imperative to fight infection and to prepare her body for transplanting her new lungs. We are thankful that COTA has agreed to allow payment of these tube feedings from the funds that we raise.



Martina has been poked and probed all her life with countless hospitalizations and procedures. She has chronic infections that require IV antibiotics. To maximize her breathing she takes two hours a day for respiratory treatments, she is shaken by airway clearance vests and given medications through breathing machines.



One looks on with awe at the resilience not only of Martina, the ultimate hero, but her family as well. Since her birth both parents, Joe and Tina, have worked two jobs to maintain optimal insurance for Martina and to pay the outrageous co-pays and medications that are required for her medical care. Unbelievably her father has become an electrician and her mother completed nursing school to help the family along during these difficult years. Now you know where Martina gets her determination. One would be amiss not to mention Martinas big brother, Dustin. He supports anything that is required to help his beloved sister.



The realization at the last doctors visit that Martinas lungs were at transplant levels hit the family hard. They had done all humanly possible to keep Martina safe from this ravishing disease only to be told that funds would have to be raised to get new lungs for Martina. These amounts of money are out of reach for any hard working family, especially one that has been stripped by medical bills already.



For each of us that have lungs that allow us to run, play or just walk... could we give thanks by helping a child that cannot breathe? Martina is giving all she can to be strong and courageous and show what a "real" hero is made of, but she needs your help. She longs for the day when her new lungs will take her through life without restrictions. It can be possible...with your help!



EVERYONE CAN DO SOMETHING!



VOLUNTEER to help with fund-raising.



SUPPORT the fund-raising by donating time, items for sale or auction, and money.



PRAY that the time will stand still until the funds are raised to give Martina the life that God intended for her.



Volunteers are needed to assist with raising funds for Martinas transplant-related expenses. Individuals and groups interested in more information can contact campaign manager, Dee Shannon at (757) 986-3828 or Nancy McKinsey at (757) 479-9563 or email: MartinaBearable@aol.com.



Funds are needed for Martina transplant-related expenses and post-transplant care. Donations can be mailed to the Childrens Organ Transplant Association, 2501 COTA Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403. Checks or money orders should be made payable to "COTA for Martina Natoli". Secure credit card donations are also accepted online at www.cota.org. Martina also has an account set up at Wachovia bank, account #3000025418629. Martinas family has asked for assistance from the Childrens Organ Transplant Association, Bloomington, Indiana, a national charity dedicated to organizing and guiding families and communities in raising funds for transplant-needy patients. The organizations priority is to assure that no child is denied a transplant or excluded from a transplant waiting list due to lack of funds.

100% of all funds raised are used for transplant related expenses.



Please give Martina A Chance for a "Bear"able Life!

http://www.4martina.org/wst_page7.html
================================================== =====