Once in awhile we meet people who truly inspire us.  Martina Natoli is one of those people.

WAVY has  been following Martina’s story for four years as have many in Hampton Roads.    She was born with cystic fibrosis and they always knew she would one day need a double lung transplant to survive.    That day came last October.   Martina’s body was pushed to the brink.    While waiting for the lungs at Duke University  Medical Center she began to cough blood.  Doctors had to put her on life support – but it wasn’t working.  They then put her on a ‘last chance’ machine that acted as her lungs.  It gave her 72 hours.  Her family and friends all came to North Carolina to say good-bye.

Luckily Martina doesn’t remember any of this.   When she woke up she had new lungs.  She is now recovering at home and excited to get back to high school for her senior year.   She’s been in and out of the hospital so much she’s missed months if not years in class.  She’s shooting for perfect attendance in 2009-10 and with her strength and determination I’m betting she can do it!