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2015 RIDER

 KELVIN MARTIN

Heart Recipient
Age 35 ~ Bowlingbrook, IL
DJ

Sponsored by Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network


In 2005, at age 25, Kelvin Martin was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. After prolonged treatment, he had his first heart attack in 2009. Kelvin graduated from college in 2010 with a BA in criminal justice and was just starting a career in law enforcement when he had a second heart attack. While undergoing a procedure to install a defibrillator and pacemaker, Kelvin had a third heart attack on the surgery table. He was kept in a medically induced coma for two weeks, during which doctors performed emergency life-saving surgery and on July 12, 2011, inserted an LVAD (left ventricular assist device) to take over his heart function while waiting for his transplant. On January 18, 2014, Kelvin, now 35, received his new heart.


Kelvin's Story

Kelvin Martin was born and raised on Chicago's West Side. In 2005, at age 25, Kelvin Martin was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. After prolonged treatment of the disease, he had his first heart attack in 2009.

"Stubborn, that was me in every way. I was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure in 2005 at 25 years old. I was the person that thought they knew everything. I was even called Dr. Martin at times," Kelvin declared. "Things were going great for me. I landed a job as a Law Enforcement Officer and graduated college with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. I was so into starting a new life with my accomplishments, I forgot or better yet I ignored the fact that I had heart disease. I continued to go on with business as usual. I was young, felt great and was making good money. "

"In 2009, I had no idea my life would forever be changed. I had my first heart attack and was only 29 years old. I heard so many times a heart attack feels like a horse kicked you in the chest. I didn't have that feeling - I just felt weak. I drove myself to the hospital and three days later, I was fine. I got discharged from the hospital and once again, back to business as usual."

In February 2011, Kelvin had a massive heart attack. This episode started unlimited hospital stays for the next five months. Kelvin had to resign from his job.

"After all of that I remained stubborn, but it got worse," he admitted. "The doctor had a meeting with my family to tell us that if I didn't have a procedure to get a defibrillator and pacemaker, I would not survive another heart attack. I was so against having any sort of surgery."

Ultimately, Kelvin agreed and while undergoing the procedure, he had a third heart attack on the operating table. For two weeks, he was kept in a medically induced coma. When he awoke from the coma, he found that doctors had performed emergency life-saving surgery and on July 12, 2011, inserted an LVAD (left ventricular assist device) inside of him that took over his heart function while waiting for a transplant. He lived the LVAD for six months until a heart could found.

On January 18, 2014, he received a new heart. "My quality of life has been great since I received the gift," said Kelvin, now 35.