Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 14, 1993 TAG: 9311140012
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: E-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Ed Shamy
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Tony and Loretta Martin of Roanoke, struggling beneath the weight of their medical bills, have openly asked for help from family and friends. They've put out donation jars at Western Sizzlin restaurants and a Stop In convenience store.
Their motivation is not yet 2 years old. Tyler Martin's heart is bad, has been all of his life.
Two of the four chambers of his heart aren't working. One valve is shot.
A strapping newborn at birth - he weighed more than 9 pounds - Tyler weighs just 20 pounds now, 20 months later.
The toddler's been in Community Hospital four times, at the University of Virginia Medical Center three times.
"It's been a real struggle to keep him alive," says Tony Martin, a station mechanic for Appalachian Power Co.
Tyler needs some major surgery to begin repairs to his heart. First, though, he needs to gain more weight, get more robust so he can withstand the strain of surgery. An operation to clamp one of Tyler's arteries - aimed at helping him gain strength - hasn't produced the hoped-for results.
And so it's time for Tyler to travel to Children's Hospital in Boston for more sophisticated tests and procedures.
Boston is 650 miles from Roanoke - a 16-hour drive by Tony's figuring.
"Our vehicles aren't up to the trip," he says.
Plane fare is $400 round-trip, assuming the Martins could book their seats two weeks in advance. They can't. When the hospital calls, they must be ready to dash. It's closer to $600 for last-minute traveling.
Pat Walrond heard of the quandary. Pat is Tony's brother-in-law's sister. Pat told her friend Andrew Carnera.
Carnera has never met Tony or Loretta or Tyler Martin.
Still, "that's a pretty sad story about that little guy," he said. A sad story's a sad story, regardless of whether you know the people involved.
Carnera went to work one night at the Roanoke Regional Airport, and at the start of their shift at 9 p.m. he called together the USAir mechanics with whom he works. He told them about Tyler Martin and he asked if anyone had a "buddy pass," one of the cut-rate tickets that USAir employees get as part of their jobs, that might be used for the Martins.
"I had about 10 volunteers," said Carnera.
Johnny Reynolds gave his two buddy passes, knocking off 90 percent of the airfare, so the Martins could travel to Boston with Tyler. That left $150 to be paid by the Martins.
Said Paul Zetler, the shop steward for the machinists' union at the airport: Let's do it all.
Union members voted unanimously to contribute the $150 from the local's treasury.
Not a one of them has ever met the Martins.
The snappy new word is "networking." But it's an old idea, because it's nothing but community.
Tyler Martin's going to Boston, and a lot of airplane mechanics he has never met will be thinking of him.
by CNB