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Bill and Amber Voorhees, Parents of Jonathan “The simple fact that Jonathan is running around our home and living life to the fullest is the greatest miracle we could ever ask for. Through this journey, we have learned that miracles happen around us all of the time -- some big and some small. Most of the time in the form of simple acts of kindness from others, like those from our COTA team of volunteers.” Bill and Amber Voorhees, Parents of Jonathan
Norm and Alison Deane, Parents of Witt “We didn’t even know it was possible to perform a heart transplant on a newborn infant. Once we knew Witt needed a new heart we were filled with doubt that we would ever be able to take him home and see him grow up. We knew we needed a miracle. With COTA’s help we were able to experience a true miracle -- a family giving our son new life.” Norm and Alison Deane, Parents of Witt
Everett and Michelle Hafenrichter, Parents of Ella “We were both devastated when we were told neither of us could donate a kidney to Ella, but a true miracle occurred when we received the call telling us a deceased donor kidney was a match. While we were saddened at his loss of life, we are eternally grateful for his gift … we consider that gift Ella’s miracle.” Everett and Michelle Hafenrichter, Parents of Ella
Marisa Southern, Mother of Matthew and Kathryn “So many miracles occurred for us since our son’s and our daughter’s diagnosis and treatment -- including the amazing support COTA provided to our family and friends throughout community fundraising efforts. Matthew has received the miracle of new life and we wait for another miracle … this time for Kathryn.” Marisa Southern, Mother of Matthew and Kathryn
Kathy Kubicek, Mother of Christin “There is not just one miracle I can think of with Christin … there are many. Our family has been blessed along this journey. The simple act of a family donating their loved one’s liver to my daughter is a miracle that I will be forever grateful for. Christin going to prom and graduating from high school … WOW! So many milestones and so many miracles.” Kathy Kubicek, Mother of Christin
Andar and Jennifer Sawyers, Parents of Bea and Grace “The miracle that unfolded for us was all of the amazing support we received from the COTA team of volunteers, family members and complete strangers. Everyone rallied around us during the transplants, and today we still feel that love and support.” Andar and Jennifer Sawyers, Parents of Bea and Grace “COTA gave us hope by making it easier for us to deal with the entire transplant process. We were so worried about Emilee’s health that the last thing we wanted to worry about was money. It was simply amazing that once COTA came to our hometown and trained the team of volunteers, the fundraising goal was quickly reached. That gave us hope that Emilee would be able to receive her new lungs, and we would be able to survive it all financially.” Andrea Pearon, Mother of Emilee “Our children are our miracles, but we got an ‘extra’ miracle the day that Emilee received her new lungs and was able to live without an oxygen tank. The freedom to walk, to run, to talk, to sing … to do everything a pre-teen should do without getting tired. I am so thankful.” Andrea Pearon, Mother of Emilee “COTA has given so much hope to our family. Throughout our transplant journey, COTA and our wonderful team of volunteers provided the financial support that we needed for our daughter to live a normal life, and this filled us with hope.” De’Ashia Taylor, Mother of De’Janai “Our first miracle was a complete stranger donating their child’s heart so De’Janai could have a second chance at life. Our second miracle was discovering COTA. COTA allowed us to focus on our daughter’s health and not worry about the bills. What a gift.” De’Ashia Taylor, Mother of De’Janai “The devastating anguish and anxiety we felt with Novalie’s diagnosis and the transplant placed a heavy emotional weight on us. It was hard to even think about the overwhelming financial implications … until we found COTA. COTA was a ray of hope for us; there is no better way to say it.” Thanh and Kathy Nguyen, Parents of Novalie
“We definitely witnessed a miracle. A family we have never met and in their darkest hour, made a decision to donate life. They gave Novalie a second chance at life. COTA was a big part of this miracle -- the perfect heart for our little girl.” Thanh and Kathy Nguyen, Parents of Novalie “COTA has been the uplifting force that we all needed to get through this journey. COTA gave our family and friends a way to help once we discovered that Harley’s only chance to live was a costly heart transplant. Without COTA, I think all hope might have been lost.” Sonya Duffer, Mother of Harley “Harley being alive today is a miracle. Literally one day he was playing tennis at school and the next day we were rushed to cardiac ICU. Two weeks after that he was on the waiting list for a new heart. Our miracle … our now healthy Harley … is one that likely would not have occurred without COTA by our side.” Sonya Duffer, Mother of Harley “COTA gave us the ability to not focus on finances, but to be able to focus on Luke. Of course the financial strain of transplant and being away from home and unable to work is always on your mind. COTA gave us hope that we would get through Luke’s transplant and emerge on the other side in a better place.” Glen and Heather Maeding, Parents of Luke “It was a miracle to see Luke right after he came out of the operating room and to see how easily he was breathing. We were in awe. Everyone who was part of the transplant journey including the medical team, family members, friends and our COTA volunteers helped us experience Luke’s miracle.” Glen and Heather Maeding, Parents of Luke “Although the mission of COTA is to help raise funds for transplant-related expenses, the real gift we received was that of hope. The outpouring of love and support, the cheers and encouragement (in person and online) during some of the most difficult days were, in essence, the hope we clung to during Claire’s transplant journey. Hope sustained us, united us and kept us moving forward.” Frank and Linda Bevec, Parents of Claire “It’s a miracle Claire lived for nine years with diseased kidneys when at birth we were told she only had a few days to live. It’s a miracle that a person bravely answered the call to donate a kidney to someone they are not even related to. It’s a miracle that Claire is with us.” Frank and Linda Bevec, Parents of Claire |
“Despite having insurance that covered most of Jonathan’s medical expenses, we were facing thousands and thousands of dollars in uncovered medical bills. This is when we reached out to COTA for help and for hope. With COTA, we are very hopeful that Jonathan will grow up to make a positive difference in the world.” 
“Once we received the devastating news that our newborn needed a heart transplant, we learned that newborn heart transplants were typically successful but were very expensive. A social worker told us about COTA and once we read the materials, we decided to become a COTA family. COTA’s help has given us hope … hope that Witt can have a long and happy future.”
“With the help of COTA, our volunteers were organized, motivated and well trained on how to raise funds to help with transplant-related expenses. This gave us tremendous hope as we started Ella’s transplant journey, and continues to give us hope today -- and will well into the future as funds will be available throughout Ella’s lifetime.”
“COTA provided much-needed hope for our kids’ futures. Fundraising for current and future transplant-related expenses has been a huge relief for us and has allowed us to concentrate on their needs. COTA staff members are uplifting and provide hope to us with every encounter.”
“COTA kept us out of bankruptcy; COTA helped us when I was staying at the hospital caring for Christin and unable to work. COTA took my worries and stress away so I could devote all of my time and energy to help Christin get well … and that gave me hope that everything was going to be OK for my three daughters and me.”
“Once we decided to have our girls’ transplants done at a medical center all the way across the country, we were not sure how we were going to make it financially. A social worker told us about COTA and from our first contact with the staff, we were given hope. COTA lightened our burdens and allowed us all to be together during an extremely stressful time.”
