Daily Inspiration: Meet Lino Martinez, PSY.D.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lino Martinez, PSY.D.

Hi Lino, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My story began the day I was born. I was born a breech baby two months early with the cord wrapped around my neck. As time went on, my growth was delayed, and I did not thrive as a child. I also felt that I was different aside from being a smaller underdeveloped little human. I spent many years as a child with intense stomach pains and doctors could not figure it out.

I always felt I was a boy, although I was born a female. Even as young as 7, I remember being upset at my brother because he was able to wear pants and t-shirts. Being brought up as a Latina in Los Angles and Catholic, I had to go by my mother’s rules and her rules only. Her rules were that all girls look and act as feminine as possible. It was a nightmare for me with everyday bows in my hair and forced to wear dresses.

I remained a small-framed person with tummy issues until I was 26, and my symptoms progressed to my urinary tract. In between all of that with my health, I was fortunate enough to complete my bachelor’s degree, my master’s degree, and my doctorate in Clinical Psychology. For the sake of saving a very detailed and long story, I will keep it as simple as possible. I endured over 40 surgeries from the time I was 28 til 40. Honestly, I had to stop counting because the more I kept count, the more I felt that I was keeping the momentum. At 33 years old, I had one of the biggest operations of my life: I had my urinary bladder removed, my urethra was removed, 30 inches of my intestines removed, my appendix was removed, and my ureters were cut, ALL in one major reconstructive surgery to basically save my life, to help me pee again. I never went pee again like a normal person though. The doctors at UCLA made me a neo-bladder out of my small intestine, connecting my kidney tubes and created a stoma, where I now pee out of by catheterizing. Before having that surgery, I had already undergone about 12 to save from losing it, but in the end, it lost its battle.

The following year when I was 34 years old, I was not optimistic about my life and started having a deep feeling that I needed to transition into the man I always felt I was. I felt that if I was going to die young, it was going to be in the right body. I began hormone replacement therapy at 34, and from that time forward, my life began to slowly blossom.

At 36, I was introduced to the UDN, which is a study conducted by Harvard called The Undiagnosed Disease Network Study, I had genetic testing done and a lot of tests. After months of discovery, I finally had an answer. I was born with a rare genetic disease called Muckle Wells Syndrome. It is statistically 1 in a million and I would need to get on immunosuppressants to save my life from the rapid progression. First, I needed a series of more surgeries in preparation for these high-dose medications. At that time, I also lost my ability to speak because the disease causes an atypical paralysis of nerve function, and for two years I was without a voice. I knew that in order to communicate, I needed to learn American Sign Language. SO I went to sign school for two years where I learned the basics of American Sign Language.

After I got all the proper surgeries, I also began to become in alignment with my higher self. I started volunteering at a Buddhist Center and started to have visions of my future. My future included helping the Deaf Community. I now wore hearing aide and had no voice. I felt that if I was going to succumb to being Deaf and Mute, I needed a community to fit in. The Deaf Community welcomed me with full open arms.

The more I continued the spiritual path, the more visions I had of my future and the more in alignment with my life’s purpose I became. I found the right doctors, got on the right medications, my voice started to come back, and I made vows to God. My vows were that if my voice came back full force, I would utilize it to help uplift humanity and be a voice for the voiceless.

Here I am now at 43 years old, a book out on Amazon, and on my 121st Episode this week with the podcast that I created almost two years ago, A Little Less Fear Podcast. I used to be a mariachi singer in my teens, I now feel that I am thriving and back in my teens, ready to sing and share the stage again. I am 8 years a new man now, and ready to step into the light that I am meant to keep lit.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Yes, it was a major struggle. From “Am I going to live”, to “Am I ready to become a man?”

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am mostly proud of having my voice back and having this rare genetic disease in remission. The biggest accomplishment is coming into alignment with my higher self.

Currently, I am a full-time podcaster, producer, host, author and to-be-professor. I release 3 episodes a week. Both my book and my podcast are titled A LITTLE LESS FEAR because with a little less fear, a lot more love can shine in.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
My mother, my brother and I danced to Cyndi Lauper Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.alittlelessfear.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/alittlelessfearpodcast/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/alittlelessfear
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtP4TN79CnanTFpRfOw0lUA
• Other: https://www.patreon.com/alittlelessfear