Martin Caldwell is your typical college student. He attends class regularly at Fresno City College, spends time with his family, and on occasion, enjoys going to the movies with friends. He loves playing video games and living life. At first glance, he seems like a normal student, trying to get ahead to the best of his abilities.

For Caldwell, however, the road to the future hasn’t been easy.

After undergoing what family and doctors call a miraculous recovery from a heart transplant, the 20-year-old student doesn’t give any hints to the life-and-death operation he had just one year ago at Stanford Medical Center.

“That’s an experience man. I don’t know any kid on this campus that has gone, been through something like that,” Caldwell said.

Suffering from an enlarged heart from a young age, Caldwell suffered the consequences of the condition that he inherited from his mother who passed away when he was just seven years old. The family realized that Caldwell suffered from the same disease when he was in the eighth grade; later on, doctors at Stanford discovered he also suffered from a rare muscle disease. Caldwell had seizures often; in high school, his heart stopped beating after a classmate accidentally pushed him down while running. On another occasion, Caldwell’s heart gave out when he was dancing at his senior trip in Disneyland.

On Feb. 2008, Caldwell checked into Stanford University Medical Center. A month later, the eight-hour operation gave Caldwell a new heart. After the procedure, the doctors put Caldwell on bed rest and gave him physical therapy for a total recovery period of six months.

“I prayed to my good man up there, and he took care of me. I prayed to him when I was in there. Everybody else out here prayed for me like my dad and my auntie, and my family prayed for me. Then God made me ok,” Caldwell said.

Caldwell’s father stayed with him for the entire recovery period. Watching people being released was tough for the family. They sat and pondered when Caldwell would be released from the hospital.

“A day or so after that, he couldn’t move his body, couldn’t eat or drink. Because of this, they had him on a respirator with a tube for breathing, along with a feeding tube in his stomach which is still there,” his father, Sam Caldwell said.

Once he was released from the hospital, Caldwell recovered with the help of his father as well as his aunt, Marylin Smith, who would even put water through the feeding tube in his stomach when Caldwell couldn’t swallow liquids or solids after the operation. Even some time after, Caldwell had difficulty walking. Doctors were amazed at his progress, and Caldwell’s father added that his son had about 95 percent of his functions back.

“It was tough because in February before he had the transplant surgery, he had a seizure. I was right at his bedside when he had the seizure. He’s 19, naturally being a parent, I saw him falling apart. I was there when he went limp. That kind of stuff was really hard for me,” Caldwell’s father said.

After the surgery, Caldwell was bombarded with medicines that he must take daily to ensure that his new heart functions properly, his old home, family and hope for the future. Back at FCC, he plans to pursue a career in the nursing field and has faith in the future. Nadine Otschock, Caldwell’s summer skills and independent living teacher says he is an excellent student.

“He’s a very outgoing young man. He’s very friendly, he’s cordial, and he’s very very positive,” Otschock said.

As for Caldwell and his family, the journey still isn’t over. Routine checkups are still necessary; he cannot play sports and precaution is advised, but overall, Caldwell is able to live a normal life.

“I’m real strong,” Caldwell said. “I’m a strong person.”