Meet Marteen!
Meet Marteen! He’s a sweet and joyful 6-year-old with the brightest spirit and the most captivating eyes. Even though his cognitive level is around 18 months and he’s fully dependent for his daily care, Marteen brings happiness wherever he goes. He absolutely loves music—especially fun tunes from Pocoyo, Peppa Pig, and Ms. Rachel. His favorite activity is banging away on his drum mat, and audiobooks with sound effects always bring a smile to his face. While he has cortical vision impairment and speaks only a few words, Marteen is learning to communicate using a device and always finds a way to share his heart.
Marteen has been a fighter from the very beginning. Born at just 36 weeks after some tough complications during pregnancy, he spent an incredible 312 days in the NICU and has undergone around 32 surgeries. Despite it all, he remains a true miracle—happy, strong, and full of love. His family says he’s an old soul, here to teach us something special. And since becoming a big brother, Marteen has blossomed in the most beautiful ways—being a big sibling has truly helped him grow and thrive.
Right now, Marteen and his family are hoping for a wheelchair-accessible van to help make everyday life a little easier. Getting to doctor’s appointments, therapies, and family adventures would be so much smoother—and safer—with a van that fits his needs. This would open up a world of possibilities for Marteen and give him more chances to get out and explore. With your help, we can make this dream come true for a little boy who gives so much joy to everyone around him!
Marteen and his family received a wheelchair van thanks to the continued support and generous donation of Wheelchair Transport Service. The smiles were so big seeing Marteen get into his van for the very first time. This will be life-changing (and back-saving) for the entire family!