He’s waiting for a heart transplant, so Columbus State held his graduation in the hospital

Mark Rice
·4 min read

Born with a heart defect, Grant Martin lived a mostly normal life until bodily fluid buildup caused a life-threatening medical condition last month.

It happened three weeks before he would have completed his student-teaching assignment at Northside High School to earn a bachelor’s degree in English from Columbus State University and become a certified educator.

Grant, 24, was admitted to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta and placed on the heart transplant list. Meanwhile, a closer examination of his academic record showed that he indeed had achieved the requirements to graduate.

“I was ecstatic,” Grant told the Ledger-Enquirer.

“It was an answer to our prayer,” Grant’s mother, Amy Martin, added.

Being hospitalized meant Grant couldn’t attend the May 10 commencement ceremony, but CSU and Emory leaders created an alternative.

Instead of the grand ceremony honoring hundreds of graduates in the CSU Lumpkin Center, Grant received his diploma in a more personalized way Saturday: in a hospital conference room at Emory, attended by several dozen relatives, friends and officials.

“I didn’t think in a million years this would happen,” said Grant, a 2018 Harris County High School graduate. “… I am very thankful they wanted to make this moment for the sake of my family to experience it with me.”

“We just couldn’t believe it,” said Amy, a second-grade teacher at Blanchard Elementary School.

The Martin family, from left, Connor, Phil, Grant and Amy, pose with Grant’s graduation gown May 25, 2024, at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, where Columbus State University conducted a special graduation ceremony for Grant, who is hospitalized while waiting for a heart transplant.
The Martin family, from left, Connor, Phil, Grant and Amy, pose with Grant’s graduation gown May 25, 2024, at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, where Columbus State University conducted a special graduation ceremony for Grant, who is hospitalized while waiting for a heart transplant.

CSU president Stuart Rayfield explained the rationale for this special ceremony and why she wanted to be there.

“Servant leadership is about understanding the highest priority need of an individual and working to meet that need,” Rayfield told the Ledger-Enquirer. “One of Grant’s needs was to walk across the stage and receive his diploma. We simply brought the stage to him. It truly is about each individual student and being there inspired me and reminded me of why I believe so deeply in the power of higher education.

Rayfield credits the hospital staff with making Grant’s ceremony extra special.

“What they did was fantastic,” she said. “… They set up the room. They did all the decorations.”

And they had a violist play the graduation march, “Pomp and Circumstance,” while Rayfield, CSU College of Letters and Sciences dean Annice Yarber-Allen and CSU College of Education and Health Professions dean Margie Yates processed in and out of the ceremony with Grant.

Columbus State University president Stuart Rayfield presents Grant Martin his diploma during the special graduation ceremony CSU conducted for him May 25, 2024, at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, where he is waiting for a heart transplant.
Columbus State University president Stuart Rayfield presents Grant Martin his diploma during the special graduation ceremony CSU conducted for him May 25, 2024, at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, where he is waiting for a heart transplant.

“They have just gone above and beyond, more than we ever could imagine,” Amy said. “… “It’s really touching they care that much to present him with his diploma in person. … It was just wonderful.”

“It was just a joyous occasion at a time you’re looking for all the light to spill into Grant,” Rayfield said.

Emory University Hospital chief operating officer Catherine Maloney told the L-E, “We didn’t want to, just because of his hospitalization, limit his ability to have something that would be so impactful to his emotional and mental well-being. … It was a privilege to be able to recognize this life event and celebrate him. Then having the university partner with us, to send representatives to actually have a more full graduation ceremony, made it even more special. … I loved seeing his expression. … Just a magical moment watching his family and friends and care-team members celebrate with him because he’s having to fight every day as he waits for his transplant.”

With a universal blood type (AB positive), Grant is confident about his chances of receiving a donor heart within a few months because his case was moved up to the second-most urgent level. He has mixed feelings about knowing the death of a stranger could save his life.

Grant Martin poses in his cap and gown at the special graduation ceremony Columbus State University conducted for him May 25, 2024, at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, where he is waiting for a heart transplant.
Grant Martin poses in his cap and gown at the special graduation ceremony Columbus State University conducted for him May 25, 2024, at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, where he is waiting for a heart transplant.

“I’m not thrilled about that idea, but they do have a program where, after a certain amount of time, you can reach out to the donor’s family and kind of connect with them,” he said. “So I’m hoping to use that as a way to maybe give them some solace, knowing their loved one unfortunately would have passed before their time, but there’s still some good that could come out of it because somebody like myself would be able to live longer and hopefully do something that will matter in life.”

That something for Grant will be teaching, following in the footsteps of his mother and father, who retired early as a computer programmer at TSYS, went into the ministry and now teaches Bible at Calvary Christian School.

“Teaching felt like a natural fit,” Grant said. “I love being able to make connections with people.”