My name is Amanda, and Amy and Martin, along with Amy's sons Mikai and Paxton, are very near and dear to my heart. I wanted to put this together on their behalf because I know they’ll all need love and support in the weeks ahead. Thank you for helping lighten their load during this season of healing. 🫶🏽 Last week, what began as chest pain became a life-threatening medical emergency. Martin suffered a heart attack and was admitted to the cardiac unit. On Sunday, Martin underwent emergency open-heart surgery, including a quadruple bypass and repair of his aorta. Thankfully, the surgery was successful, and Martin is now beginning what will be a long recovery.❤️🩹 Many of you have asked how you can help. While Amy and Martin are incredibly grateful, they are also the kind of people who will likely say, “We’re okay.” The reality is that recovery from open-heart surgery is a marathon, NOT a sprint. Although support often pours in during the first few days, the weeks that follow are when help is often needed the most. Doctors expect Martin’s recovery to take at least 12 weeks. During this very unexpected time, Amy will be balancing caregiving, motherhood, work, meals, and keeping the house in working order, while helping Martin heal. (oh and if you know Amy, she will 100% be putting her skills to work, with making sure only the most healthiest lifestyle possible is started for Martin.) This page has been created to coordinate practical support in the weeks ahead. Whether you can contribute funds towards housecleaning or groceries, spend a few hours keeping Martin company so Amy can rest or take care of other things, help with rides (Martin will not be able to drive for 8-10 weeks), do a grocery or pharmacy run, offer time or space to support/have fun with Mikai and Paxton (they LOVE Martin as their Bonus Dad and are of course worried about him, too), or simply send a gift card, EVERY act of kindness makes a meaningful difference. Amy can use this page for updates, and as their upcoming week unfolds I will add what their needs are. We also ask that you keep Martin's daughters, Kailee and Talia, in your hearts and send them all the positive loving juju!. While they live out of town, they are walking through this frightening season with their dad from afar. Reaching out to them with your messages of love, encouragement, and support will mean so much to them as well. This is also a place where you can post notes of support and encouragement to Martin! He is, as we all know, a very well loved guy with a sense of humor that thankfully stays in tact (even through this!) a passion for music and travel, and above all else, love for his his close knit community of family and friends. Bring your A -game of jokes, stories, pictures and other sources of laughter and smiles here. He will need it! Thank you for helping carry some of the load so Amy and Martin can focus on what matters most, healing and recovery.
While a home-cooked meal is such a thoughtful way to support, the family has several food allergies and dietary restrictions. With Martin beginning a heart-healthy lifestyle following surgery, they will also be navigating a new way of eating specifically for Martin as part of his recovery. Because of this, grocery gift cards will likely be more helpful than prepared meals! During this time, Martin will be extremely limited in what he is allowed and able to do. I’d love to help ease some of the day-to-day burden so he can focus on healing and so Amy and the boys feel supported. If we can take a few things off their plate, I know it would mean a great deal. Their preferred grocery stores are Sprouts, Trader Joes, Publix and Whole Foods. Thank you everyone!