Marco H

Hi, my name is Marco and I’m a 9 year old in need of a lung transplant.

When I was 5, I was diagnosed with high-risk Neuroblastoma and underwent 2 years of cancer treatment. It started with 6 months of chemotherapy, a flight across the country to surgically remove my abdominal tumor, a Bone Marrow transplant, radiation, and then 6 rounds of immunotherapy.

Luckily, the treatment worked and I made it out alive! 2023 was a great year for me, I got to go back to 2nd grade and see all my friends, both new and old. I missed them very much since I had to skip 1st grade while I was staying in the hospital.

Everything was going great until I developed a cough and started having trouble walking up the stairs in school. My mom took me to the doctor and we found out I have a disease called Pulmonary Fibrosis from all the cancer therapy I received.

They say it’s extremely rare, not many doctors have seen a 9 year old with this condition. My mommy had to bring me all the way to Shands Children’s Hospital at the University of Florida just to find someone who knew how to help me. It’s very far away from my home, my dad, and my brother and sister but I’m grateful she did because they told us they could help me after all hope was lost.

The doctors said I need a Lung Transplant now, and without one I may not make it to 3rd grade. They put me on the transplant waiting list and my mom and I have to stay in the hospital until I get new lungs. Afterwards we have to live here for an additional 3 months for post surgery treatment, and the doctors say it could take up to 3 months to even have the transplant surgery. My health insurance is willing to pay for the transplant surgery only if it is done in Texas or Boston- not here in Florida where I live and am staying.

Update March 2024:

Day 3 on ECMO and he is like a whole new boy. He will have to stay on this until his transplant, but it’s nice to see him happy again.