Martin’s Fight for Survival

Bronx, NY

Martin recently shared his journey to receive a life-saving bone marrow transplant. He describes a difficult process, with every step resulting in a new struggle, another challenge to overcome before he could proceed on his journey.

—–

Martin is a proud resident of the Bronx. He has worked construction in NYC for 36 years, he is an electrician for local No. 3.

Last year, he became overwhelmed by an unexplained weakness. He was always tired on the job, and he couldn’t perform the way he used to. This wasn’t old age creeping up on him, this was something different. The fatigue he felt was extreme.

But the job wouldn’t wait and Martin was laid off.

Just a few weeks later, he was diagnosed with blood cancer, multiple myeloma. A bone marrow transplant was his only chance for survival.

This difficult news was followed by a litany of treatments and tests to prepare him for a transplant.

But as the weeks passed, Martin had difficulty walking. His legs swelled to the point that he couldn’t move without pain. His next diagnosis was bilateral DVT – dangerous blood clots in both legs. They prescribed blood thinners and the transplant was put on hold for a few months.

Finally, Martin was ready for the delicate process of aphaeresis.

They collected his stem cells, millions of them, to freeze and store in preparation for an autologous stem cell transplant. He would return to the hospital in a few days to undergo high-dose chemotherapy, clearing the cancer from his bone marrow. Then they would re-introduce his own stem cells to produce new, healthy cells.

Everything seemed to be moving forward – until it wasn’t.

Martin spiked a fever of 104 degrees, he turned yellow. He was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with liver failure. His body battled for 22 days while his family slept on chairs in his hospital room.

Thanksgiving came and went while he lay in a hospital bed, facing a seemingly endless cycle of new diagnoses and treatments. Each step forward seemed to come with another setback. By the time he was finally ready to receive his transplant, Martin was losing hope, and his savings had disappeared.

That’s when the Icla da Silva Foundation stepped in.

We provided Martin with the financial support he desperately needed to cover essential expenses. Beyond that, we offered emotional support, checking in regularly to be there for both Martin and his daughter Emily – his rock throughout this ordeal – to offer a listening ear and comfort during some of their toughest moments. We even searched outside our Foundation, helping the family find additional resources for assistance.

For 32 years, the Icla da Silva Foundation has been helping patients like Martin navigate these difficult journeys. We remove barriers to treatment during their greatest time of need. But we can’t continue this work without your help.

Your donation will directly assist patients, especially when they have nowhere else to turn.

Please donate to help a patient like Martin in their fight for survival.

DONATE TODAY

The transplant was successful, and Martin was extremely grateful.

“I cannot thank you enough,” Martin shared in a moment of reflection, “I honestly would not have known what to do by myself. You helped me navigate a very rough course in life, and I’m extremely grateful.“

As Martin continues his journey to recovery, we wish him many years of health and happiness.

With your support, we will continue to help patients receive the help they need. Please donate today.

Thanks for reading Martin’s story.

Written by: Bret Itskowitch