Bloomington, Indiana -- July 1, 2010 – On July 7th, the town of Round Rock, Texas, is going to be rockin’ when resident Major Key celebrates his second transplant anniversary … and his second chance at life. Just a couple years ago his parents, Karroll and Stephanie, could not have imagined this milestone would ever be a reality.

At 32 weeks of gestation, doctors discovered that Stephanie had no amniotic fluid surrounding her unborn baby and she was sent to the hospital for an emergency cesarean section. Tiny Major was born with posterior urethral valve, an obstruction that badly damaged both his kidneys in utero. Major had no kidney function. This premature infant needed dialysis to survive his first months of life, but it was dangerous and difficult -- an uphill battle for the baby. Several times along the way, Karroll and Stephanie prepared for Major’s death.

Then Stephanie heard about the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford in Palo Alto, California, and the transplant team there gave this family hope. However, the center was 1,800 miles from home and the family would have to live there for a minimum of three months. In addition, their medical insurance did not cover any living expenses or their household expenses while they were out of work.

It was during these days of desperation that the transplant team at Lucile Packard told the Key family about the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA).

“COTA provided hope for our family by showing us that money should not be an obstacle when faced with a transplant. COTA provided hope for our family in the form of encouragement and support to our team of volunteers who worked tirelessly to raise funds for transplant-related expenses,” said Karroll Key.

After a flurry of fundraising activity from COTA volunteers, the family temporarily re-located to California and their hope quickly turned into a miracle when Major received a kidney from his father.

“At birth, we were given little hope Major would ever leave the hospital. Then a transplant center 1,800 miles away from home gave us hope … and COTA helped turn that hope into a miracle. COTA gave us a sense of peace about the financial aspects involved with Major receiving his father’s kidney,” said Stephanie Key.

Today the Keys are back at home in Round Rock, and Major is doing well -- running, jumping and shooting a basketball on a daily basis. He no longer needs physical therapy and he is making huge developmental strides. Major is getting ready to head off to preschool with his neighborhood friends.

According to Stephanie, “As we celebrate Major’s transplant anniversary, the true gift we will remember is COTA … an organization of caring professionals who give children a chance to live life to the fullest.”
 

Bloomington, Indiana -- June 7, 2010 -- The month of June is full of excitement … summer break, vacations and a special day to celebrate Dads. Father’s Day has become a very special holiday for two central Illinois parents. They experienced a miracle when Treyton Miller received a portion of his dad’s liver … and a second chance at life.

Within days of Treyton’s birth on August 31, 2006, his parents, Shannon and Tom, knew something was very wrong. Just seven-days-old, Treyton was sent to a pediatric specialty hospital where he was admitted because of a dangerously high bilirubin level. He underwent two complete exchange blood transfusions to lower the level, but they were unsuccessful. During this hospitalization, doctors discovered Treyton lacked bile ducts and a gall bladder, and the tiny baby was diagnosed with biliary atresia -- a fatal disease that can only be treated with a liver transplant.

In November 2006, Shannon and Tom traveled north to Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, and by January 2007 his name was added to the national organ waiting list. At the same time, tests also revealed that Daddy Tom could be Treyton’s living donor. But how could they afford the surgery, especially when they were so far away from home?

It was during these days they family reached out to the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA).
“COTA was simply amazing. We were so worried because we would likely be giving up two incomes to care for our son, and we wondered how we would pay our bills and care for Treyton’s older sister. With COTA standing beside us, people who we didn’t even know stepped up to help meet our need,” said Shannon.

“With COTA we knew that financially we were going to be OK. That gave us incredible hope. Without COTA, we would have drowned in bills. Through our friends and family, COTA helped us help ourselves,” said Tom.

Treyton and Tom’s journey to transplant was not easy. In early February 2007, Treyton got very sick and stopped eating and growing. The living donor transplant was initially scheduled for March 14th but Treyton was too ill and they were sent home. The transplant was then scheduled for April 11th but Tom had the flu. Then it was rescheduled for May 2nd but Treyton was ill. Finally, after three false starts, Tom gave a portion of his liver to Treyton on May 18, 2007.

Transplant day was actually a miracle in itself as Tom’s transplant team performed his procedure at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago while Treyton’s transplant took place on the other side of the city at Children’s Memorial Hospital.

“Treyton’s transplant, with his dad being his living donor, was a true miracle. With COTA’s help, our whole church, and most of our city, was thinking about, and praying for, this transplant. COTA connected the community to our little boy, and that connection helped make a miracle,” said Shannon.

Treyton was discharged from the hospital just 12 days later, while Tom left his hospital four days after the surgery. Since that time both Miller men have done well. Treyton has had no complications with his new liver. According to his dad, today Treyton is 100% normal … a toddler who speaks fluently and plays very hard.

Truly the best Father’s Day gift.
 

Bloomington, Indiana -- May 3, 2010 -- May is the month set aside to celebrate mothers. Mother’s Day is one of the most universally acknowledged holidays shared across cultures and traditions; and it holds even more significance for the Mills family of Raleigh, North Carolina. Toddler David Mills is alive today because his mother, Bebe, donated a portion of her liver to him. With this gift, Bebe gave her son a second chance at life.

According to Bebe, she had the perfect pregnancy. No morning sickness, great health and working until the day her water broke while in her office. But when David was born, the medical team knew something was wrong, and he was immediately transferred to another hospital for more testing. The tiny infant was diagnosed with biliary atresia -- a fatal disease that can only be treated with a liver transplant.

At three months of age, David became very ill and had to be hospitalized. From that point on, he never laughed; he stopped reaching the milestones normal babies his age were attaining, and he was in the hospital much more than he was out of it.

On October 12, 2007, just shy of his first birthday, David was admitted to the University of North Carolina Hospital. It was then that Bebe discovered she was the best candidate to be a living liver donor for David. Transplant planning began, and the Mills family reached out to the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA).

“When we first started researching the cost of a transplant, we started to worry because our insurance would not cover everything. COTA gave us hope by raising the funds we needed with a team of our friends and family members. COTA funds would be available for David whenever he needed them. That gave us hope.” said Bebe.

“My husband and I met with a few friends to discuss what our needs would be throughout the process and then COTA met with our friends and helped them organize. COTA provided us stability, reliability and security at a time when our lives were completely turned upside-down.”

David received a portion of his mother’s liver on December 7, 2007. David bounced back immediately, but it took longer for Bebe to recover. David remained hospitalized due to infection, but he was released on February 4, 2008, and according to his mother has been spending the months since transplant growing and playing “catch up” physically and developmentally.

“From the day David was born until today, his entire life is a miracle. Little David has been through so much and he has bounced back each time. We have strong spiritual beliefs and we do recognize that a miracle occurred in our family. We thank COTA for all they have done to make that possible.”

David’s smile, according to Bebe, is the ultimate Mother’s Day gift.
 

Thanks to an Unknown Donor Family,
One Oregon Family is Forever Grateful

Bloomington, Indiana -- April 12, 2010 -- April is Donate Life Month, and the Asboes from Canby, Oregon, understand the importance of the celebration all too well. They will be forever grateful to the family who chose to donate their child’s organs -- and save Amber’s life. Precious Amber would not be the happy toddler she is today without the generosity of her donor family.

Amber’s first year of life was normal -- full of love and developmental milestones. However just days before her first birthday, Amber’s life changed dramatically when she became sick while attending a family party at a local restaurant. Amber’s mom, Christy, a nurse, knew instantly something was very wrong. After a few days of hospital testing, Amber was diagnosed with pulmonary vein stenosis, an extremely rare condition with no cure. Christy and Ron were told Amber’s only chance for survival was a double lung transplant.

In October 2007, Ron and Christy travelled 2,500 miles to St. Louis Children’s Hospital for Amber’s transplant evaluation. On November 1st she was officially listed for a double lung transplant. It was during these difficult days that Ron and Christy learned about the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA).

“Upon hearing Amber’s diagnosis, we were devastated. But after we heard about COTA, I started to relax. With COTA’s support, we were able to keep our home while we were away at transplant. Suddenly I knew there was hope for our future; I didn’t need to fear my entire world falling apart. With COTA, I knew we could make it through,” Christy explained.

Ron said, “COTA helped our family, friends and community come together to raise funds for transplant-related expenses. We were a hard-working, self-sufficient young family when this tragedy turned our lives upside down. COTA was there for us every step of the way and their fundraising guidance and support allowed me to concentrate on Amber’s needs and not to worry about money.”

Amber’s second chance at life came on Christmas Eve 2007. After a difficult post-transplant recovery, Amber and her parents are back at home in Oregon, living life to the fullest.

“Amber is a miracle … our miracle. At one time post-transplant, we were told she might be in a vegetative state for the rest of her life. Today Amber is happy and playful and full of smiles. Every breath she takes is a miracle,” said Christy and Ron.

Amber’s ear-to-ear grin is an indication that she knows she got the ultimate gift -- the gift of life.
 

One COTA Mom Shares Her Family’s Journey to Transplant
and the Selfness Donation that Saved Her Son’s Life

Bloomington, Indiana -- March 29, 2010 -- Every day in April (National Donate Life Month), people across the United States are encouraged to stop and think about saving lives. April is a chance for Americans to make a special effort to celebrate the tremendous generosity of those who have saved lives by becoming organ and tissue donors, and to encourage others to follow their example.

Why are these 30 days of April so important to raise awareness about becoming an organ and/or tissue donor?
 The need is growing on a daily basis.
 Currently there are 105,720 people on the organ waiting list in the United States.
 Each day, 77 children and adults get their life-saving organ transplant, but 19 others die because an organ did not become available in time.

For one Texas COTA family who beat the odds, National Donate Life Month is an important time to share their son’s transplant journey, and to acknowledge the anonymous family whose donation turned anguish into joy.

Weylin Kleinman was born on July 14, 2000, in Round Rock, Texas, several months after doctors had, while he was in utero, spotted what they thought was a cyst in his stomach. Tests done immediately after his birth showed an underdeveloped baby inside Baby Weylin’s abdominal cavity. Doctors removed it one week later and within days of the surgery discovered that Weylin’s small intestines were not functioning -- leaving the infant no way to process food. Weylin’s overworked liver also failed.

His parents, Kristi and Paul, were told Weylin’s condition, called fetus-in-fetus, was profoundly rare with only 50 to 75 cases documented worldwide in more than 200 years. Weylin was put on organ waiting lists at hospitals in New York City, NY, Pittsburgh, PA, and Omaha, NE -- all of which specialize in children’s transplants. And the family’s long and nerve-wracking waiting process began.

According to Kristi, “Once we started down the pathway of researching organ transplants, we instantly knew we were going to need help financially. Many of our friends and family members started trying to raise money for us on their own, but they were struggling to be successful.”

“While I was on a visit to the transplant unit at Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital, I met a fellow transplant family who was using the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA). They explained to me the many benefits associated with COTA, and told me how much trust they had in the organization. I fell in love with COTA on the spot and called my family and friends in Texas to discuss the concept.”

Almost immediately the Kleinman’s friends and families rallied together to work with COTA. According to Kristi, who was still far from home with a very sick baby, everyone was elated and that elation gave her a sense of encouragement and hope that her son’s life would be saved. She said, “I could not believe how fast a COTA training team could get to Texas from Indiana. The relief came to me almost as quickly, once I knew our volunteers were working with this incredible organization.”

Over the coming months, the COTA team orchestrated bake sales at major retailers, hosted Easter egg hunts at the Dell Diamond (a local AA baseball team) and managed coin collection canisters located throughout their community. In addition, family members told Kristi working with COTA allowed donors generosity to be rewarded through the tax deduction for their gift. COTA also helped to open the door to the media for this transplant family, and according to Kristi, “our adorable baby was embraced by even more members of our loving community.”

COTA provided a much-needed distraction while Kristi and Paul waited for a suitable liver and small intestine to be donated. The family’s transplant-related expenses mounted -- even during the long wait for transplant. The COTA team raised more than $75,000 -- and every penny was, or will be, used to cover his transplant-related expenses, including renting a medical transport jet when the family received ‘the call’ in Texas and had a window of only a few hours to get to Pittsburgh so Weylin could receive a second chance at life.

Weylin’s transplant surgery lasted 12 hours and came with a price tag of $1.8 million. Even more wrenching was knowing that a three-year-old girl was killed in an accident. Her family’s decision to donate her organs gave Weylin his second chance. Since receiving that selfless gift of life almost a decade ago, Kristi has become a vocal supporter of organ donation; she is a major supporter of National Donate Life Month activities.

“Another jaw-dropping aspect of COTA is the relief in not having to search for more funds once your child is blessed with donated organs,” said Kristi. “COTA tried to prepare me for how overwhelming it is when the organs come and the transplant actually occurs, but I figured after all of the waiting, this would not be the case with me. I was wrong.”

“This is truly one of the miracles you receive when working with COTA. Their professionals have seen so many families go through this traumatic event, and they know how to make sure you are ready for what you are about to endure. With COTA, I never once worried about the huge medical bills or the cross-country check ups or any of those transplant-related expenses that we will have for the rest of Weylin’s hopefully long life.”

Weylin has not experienced one bout of rejection since his small intestine and liver transplant nearly a decade ago. He plays on flag football and basketball teams. He loves his little sister and video games. He argues with his mom about homework and bedtime. He and his family travel from Texas to Pittsburgh for an annual check-up where they are able to show off the miracle performed there on June 8, 2001.

Weylin’s second chance at life was possible only because of a family from thousands of miles away who, in the face of their own personal tragedy and grief, made the decision to donate life.
 

Bloomington, Indiana – March 8, 2010 -- Spring is in the air and Gregory Ramsey is jumping for joy. But this hasn’t always been the case for this outdoor-loving COTA teen from Pico Rivera, California.

Until his 10th birthday, Gregory Ramsey had been a full-time boy, avidly participating in soccer and Tae Kwon Do. Looking back, his parents, Darren and Mary, remember that he bruised easily, but they never really worried about it. On a September day in California in 2005, Gregory came to the breakfast table wrapped in a blanket, and his parents decided to seek medical advice. His first round of tests came back with a diagnosis of pancytopenia, a low production of red and white blood cells and platelets. In January 2006, the diagnosis changed to aplastic anemia. Forced to withdraw from all sporting activities, Gregory started treatment. When those treatments failed, Gregory was tested again and in February 2007 the family received the awful diagnosis -- fanconi anemia. The only treatment is a bone marrow transplant.

Faced with mounting expenses, the Ramseys were told to contact the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) to find some relief from the mounting stress of the diagnosis and from the news that they would relocate from California to Minnesota for treatment.

“Almost instantly, COTA guided a group of our family and friends through fundraising efforts that proved to be a true lifesaver for our family,” said Mary Ramsey. “We were so far from home. COTA provided a website that allowed us to keep our family informed about Gregory’s health, and allowed our friends to send us their prayers.”

Luckily a match was found quickly. Gregory received his transplant, and his second chance at life, at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview on December 13, 2007. The family remained in Minneapolis until late March 2008. According to his parents, “this was the most unbelievable time of our family’s life.”

“COTA means there is someone out there fighting for your family’s financial needs so you can spend your time fighting for your child’s health -- not worrying about money. COTA meant we were not alone in Gregory’s transplant journey … COTA gave us hope,” said Darren Ramsey.

“With the many prayers God answered for Gregory through his transplant team and through our COTA network of support, our family was able to witness a miracle.”

In December 2008, the Ramseys returned to Minneapolis for a series of one-year follow-up tests. Gregory is feeling much stronger, is participating in many of his favorite activities in his new school, and is studying very hard. At the checkup, Gregory got two thumbs up.

Truly a reason to jump for joy!