Hope for Martin: A Second Chance at Life

Dear Family and Friends,

On Friday, November 29, 2024, Martin Guiracocha underwent emergency surgery for gallbladder removal at Greenwich Hospital. In the days following the procedure, he remained hospitalized due to complications and infections that required an endoscopy as ordered by his doctors. On Tuesday, December 3, 2024, during the endoscopy, Martin vomited while being intubated, causing aspiration into his lungs. This led to a critical situation where Martin fought for his life for four hours that afternoon, ultimately requiring admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and connection to a ventilator as his heart and lungs began to fail.

Doctors determined that the ventilator alone would not suffice and placed Martin on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) life support. This was the last available option to keep him alive. The ECMO machine was transported from Yale New Haven Hospital to Greenwich Hospital, as there are only two such machines in the state of Connecticut. Early on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at approximately 2:00 a.m., Martin was transferred to Yale New Haven Hospital, the closest facility equipped with the necessary resources and expertise to care for him. He was admitted to the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit (CTICU), where he was placed in a medically induced coma, on a ventilator, and connected to the ECMO machine while receiving numerous antibiotics.

Since his transfer, Martin has been in critical condition, undergoing countless imaging studies, procedures, and surgeries. Doctors have diagnosed him with sepsis and a severe infection around the site of his gallbladder removal and liver. The prolonged use of life-support machines and intensive antibiotic treatment has led to additional infections and complications, further worsening his condition.

Martin was successfully disconnected from the ECMO machine as it was no longer necessary, showing signs of progress. Following a tracheotomy procedure on Friday, December 20, 2024, he responded well and woke up on Saturday, December 21, 2024, since then, Martin has made remarkable improvements, he continuous to be in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) requiring minimal use of the ventilator and began both physical and speech therapy.

According to the medical team, Martin faces a long and challenging recovery that could take many months. Since he has been unable to work and it remains uncertain when he will be able to return, we are seeking donations to help ease the burden of incoming medical bills, personal expenses, and recovery-related costs such as medication, physical therapy, and follow-up care.

We understand that this has been a difficult year for many, but Martin’s family humbly requests any contribution you can make. We sincerely appreciate your support and generosity during these trying times. Your contributions are both needed and deeply valued.

Sincerely,

The Guiracocha-Campoverde Family