From the very beginning, their path has been shaped by a shared diagnosis, a shared determination, and a shared love that defies limitation.

Marty is a full-time wheelchair user raising a son with the same progressive disease, one that weakens muscles over time. But their story isn't about what's missing. It's about what remains: joy, resilience, a relentless sense of humor, and the kind of father-son bond that makes you believe in something bigger.

"He’s a prankster," Marty says. "We have this routine where he saves 10 milliliters of water during his line flushes just so he can shoot me in the face with it after. He’s got me wrapped around his finger."

Whether it’s gaming side-by-side on their screens or building experimental science projects that may or may not be actual experiments (Kisen is adamant that pouring water into a jug counts), Marty and his son spend nearly every minute together. 

Marty is a full-time caregiver and homeschool teacher, and while their home life is filled with structure and therapy, it’s also filled with laughter.

Kisen starts each morning with a jump scare—literally. “Every day starts with a 'Boo!' when I’m waking up,” Marty laughs. “It’s the little things that make me smile.”

While their shared diagnosis presents real challenges, Marty is determined to show his son what’s possible.

"I hated growing up with it," he says. "I didn’t want him to feel the way I did. So I make sure he sees me trying. Struggling. Lifting things, fighting through the pain. Because if he sees me doing it, he’ll think, 'Why can't I?'”

Kisen does notice. Marty calls him a daredevil with a scientist's brain. He rides the edge of his wheelchair to practice core strength. He checks in on his Mimi (grandma) every morning, helps make her breakfast, and sneaks out to care for their outdoor cats. 

"He's caring. He sees if I’m hurting and tries to help. He's got this big heart."



And he’s tough. Really tough. Wrestling matches with Marty are a form of therapy. They fight, they play, and they train. "I let him punch me. He likes to test his strength. It’s exercise and it’s bonding. It’s just what we do."

Before their Chive Charities grant, transportation was a major barrier to any kind of outside-the-home activity. They relied on Marty’s mom’s Honda Civic, a metal trailer from Lowe’s, and a whole lot of muscle.



"It was like a clown car situation. I’d have to load up a metal ramp, wheel his chair up, strap it all down, lift him into a car seat, then do the whole thing in reverse at our destination. It was 30 to 40 minutes of labor just to leave the house. And if it rained, we weren’t going."

Then, a stranger at New Orleans Children’s Hospital saw them struggling to load up and mentioned Chive Charities. She had received her own life-changing van from our incredible donors and knew it could be the same for them. Marty hesitated. 

"I figured we wouldn’t get it. I procrastinated. But then my mom got in a wreck, and I realized we had no other choice. I started the application again."



Eventually, it found its way into the hands of the Chive Charities team, and what Marty considered impossible became reality. They were getting their van.

"I was so excited when I got the email," Marty recalls. "Every step, I kept texting people—we were finally going to get out more."

What does that look like for them? Feeding ducks at the park. Visiting the planetarium. Birdwatching across the country. And maybe even taking Kisen to his very first concert. 

(For the record, Marty is a huge Machine Gun Kelly fan, so while some of the content might be NSFW, a few songs and lyrics have gotten him through some of the hardest times of his life. If you’re reading this, MGK, Marty and Kisen are ready to meet whenever you are!) 

"We already have a stick pile for camping, too," Marty says. "Kisen collects them all year long. He’s ready."



Their new home, lovingly renovated by Marty’s younger brother, is a symbol of that same readiness. It’s more like two homes in one—an original family house that’s been expanded since the 1800s, now equipped with accessible sinks and wide doorways.

"My brother said, 'I want y’all to have something you’ve never had before.' And thanks to this van, and to Chive Charities, I think we finally do."

There were a few hiccups with the process, but Marty’s attitude never wavered. He was grateful. Relieved. Hopeful.

"Everything I do is for him," he says. "Every book I read, every appointment I schedule, every sacrifice I make. Kisen changed my life. He gave me purpose. And now, I just want to give him the world."



Thanks to the generosity of Chive Charities donors, Marty and Kisen now have the freedom to explore it. Your support didn’t just fund a van—it powered a father’s mission to give his son every opportunity to grow, play, and dream beyond limitations.



If you’re ready, you can help more families like Marty and Kisen build lives full of adventure, purpose, and possibility. Join the movement to make the world 10% happier. DONATE HERE.