Valente's 2nd Heart Transplant

Valente Marin has a wife and three children; he enjoys supporting their soccer activities, goofing off with his 14 year old daughter, building gymnastics bars for his 11 year old daughter, DIY projects around the home for his wife, and rebuilding Toyota FJ Cruisers with his 17 year old son. He has a passion for helping others and volunteering for youth, and dedicates his time as the Regional Coordinator for AYSO's Region 12.  Valente was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy in 2008, and in May 2016, while attending an event for AYSO, he endured a 28 day stay at Northwestern Hospital in Chicago which resulted in two surgeries to address his heart condition - his body went into organ failure because his heart was not pumping enough oxygenated blood throughout his body. He had to have a L-VAD put in to pump his heart for him. Following this procedure, he was moved to the top of the transplant list. Within 4 months, on October 28, 2016, he had a heart transplant. The transplant was a success and he claimed he'd never felt better! His family was so relieved that he recovered so quickly. Then, in March of 2017, he caught a virus which resulted in his body rejecting his new heart. After 3 arduous hospital stays, he was finally told he was on his way to a slow recovery. Unfortunately, his heart is now slowly declining; not improving like doctors (and family) had hoped. His medical team instructed him to start the process for another transplant all over again, "just in case."

Valente had been a long time employee with Toyota, and was placed on medical disability over a year ago.  To make matters worse, Toyota has officially (legally) given him his separation notice and he will no longer be employed as of September 28, 2017. He and his family rely heavily on their medical benefits from Toyota.  His wife, Amee, has been a "domestic engineer" (as she likes to call it) for more than a decade now, and is currently in the process of re-entering the work force in order to find employment with a company that will offer their family medical coverage. 

Valente and his family now face the fear and finincial stress of medical expenses, which will include paying for medical appointments and medication, on top of day to day expenses such as groceries, utilities, rent, commuting to UCLA every week, as well as the costs of the various extra curricular activities the kids are involved in. It's going to be a long journey, and we hope to support him and his family just as he has supported those of us in his community. 

He and his family thank you for your support and prayers for another successful triumph over his heart condition!