Family Spotlight

Less Than Two Years Since Her Liver and Kidney Transplant, COTA Patient Dyamond Ott is Enjoying Her Summer to the Fullest

As a toddler, Dyamond Ott itched her legs until they were raw and got out of bed at night to rub her feet on the carpet – often until she had blisters. This little girl would constantly tell her parents, “my bones itch.” She also required more sleep than most children.

After many medical tests and opinions, physicians confirmed Dyamond was correct in thinking her bones itched, but it was actually her blood causing the internal irritation. By the time Dyamond was six years old, she was diagnosed with a liver disease called Progressive Familial Hepatic Cholestasis Type 3 and a blood disease called Congenital Hemolytic Anemia. Her liver was deteriorating rapidly and her red blood cells were dying quickly. To combat these conditions, Dyamond took nine medications each day and endured countless medical tests and procedures. At the same time, Dyamond’s family was told that younger sister, Dallas, had the same liver disease. However, Dallas’ disease was not progressing as quickly as Dyamond’s was.

By the age of 12, Dyamond was sent to The Nebraska Medical Center for further evaluation. The specialists there confirmed her two diagnoses, but added another to the list – a kidney disease called Advanced Global Glomerulosclerosis. To survive, Dyamond needed a liver and kidney transplant. In July 2006, Dyamond was placed on the national waiting list for a liver and a kidney. At the same time, her family called the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) for assistance. Friends and family members in her Ankeny, Iowa, hometown rallied to do anything they could to help.

Less than three months later, on September 21, 2006, Dyamond received a second chance at life when one donor gave a liver and a kidney.

Dyamond’s recovery has been slow, and she has to be reminded she received two organs and her recovery will take time. Dyamond’s passion is dancing and she wants to keep working toward her goal of becoming a professional dancer ... and living life to the fullest.

According to Dyamond’s mother, Diane Ott, “COTA took the guessing out of how our friends and family members could help our family. This brought us great hope. COTA gave us such peace of mind that we were not alone. Our donor family also provided us the ultimate hope. We are so grateful to them, to our COTA team, and to all the wonderful people we have met throughout this transplant journey.”

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Giving Options

Take Care of Those Who Take Care of You

Regardless of your life circumstances or your estate size, your will is perhaps the most important document you will create. A thoughtfully crafted will expresses your wishes and values. It also effectively provides for the people and charitable causes, such as health care and children, important to you.

Although many people procrastinate when making a will, here are eight important reminders why you need a will:

1. Without a will, your state’s laws -- not you -- determine how, when and to whom your property is distributed.
2. You can reduce (or perhaps even eliminate) estate taxes and save taxes in a survivor’s estate, if you make use of the estate tax exemptions.
3. You can name your executor to manage and settle your estate.
4. You can designate beneficiaries for items such as heirlooms, art objects, jewelry or real estate.
5. You may create trusts to provide for your spouse, children and others.
6. Through a pour over will you can transfer leftover assets to your living trust.
7. You can support the Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA) through a bequest, which is simple, flexible and estate tax–deductible.
8. With a will, you can designate the guardian for dependents under your care.

Please contact Rick Lofgren at 800.366.2682 or via email at for more information.

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Ways You Can Help

The Miracle-Making Power of a Penny

What is COTA Saturday?

It all began with Samantha.

Samantha, whose smile lights up her face and brings joy to her family and friends. Samantha, who got a second chance at life when she received a liver transplant.

It was Samantha who prompted New York volunteer Barb Petula to work with the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) to raise funds to help with
transplant-related expenses. And, it was Samantha who prompted Barb to develop
the idea of a nationwide activity that allowed others to help, too.

Each year, COTA Saturday is held the third Saturday of September. On that date, COTA and a legion of volunteers will raise funds for transplant-related expenses, and will raise awareness about organ and tissue donation ... all in a combined effort to help give kids a second chance at life.

Get your local Clubs, Churches and Businesses to help.

Encourage them to organize an activity in your community – a fundraising activity like a dinner or auction, or an awareness-raising activity like donor education materials’ distribution. Or perhaps a combination of activities with funds helping kids, like your COTA patient, who need a second chance at life.

100% of funds raised through COTA Saturday will support COTA and COTA patients.

To learn more, log on to www.COTASaturday.org

What is COTA’s Million Miracles Campaign?

As part of COTA Saturday, individuals, small groups and/or businesses can participate in COTA’s Million Miracles campaign. This simple fundraiser can raise funds to help families (like your patient family) who are facing a transplant, and can truly help make a difference in a child’s life. Collecting coins can save a life. COTA challenges you to organize an event with a goal of collecting one million pennies, in an effort to help COTA make One Million Miracles. Go online to get more information ... tools, tips, ideas and resources are available at no charge.

To learn more, log on to www.COTAMiracleMakers.org

One COTA Group’s Coin Collection Story

Middleton High School Key Club (Middleton, Wisconsin) accepted COTA’s challenge and decided to organize an effort to help COTA ‘make miracles’. Members of this Wisconsin Key Club were inspired when a COTA representative presented a workshop at their Key Club Convention several months ago.

According to Key Club President Megan Pattarozzi, “Using the spirit of homecoming week, we figured having a penny war might spark some fun amongst the students and teachers, while helping out a great cause. We picked four fairly popular teachers at our school to participate in our contest.

We wanted to collect as much as possible, so we actually made a disincentive if pennies were donated by telling students that the winning teacher had to receive the least amount of pennies ... 1 dollar was negative 100 pennies; a dime was negative 10 cents, etc. To collect the money we had a jar set up for each teacher during all three lunch periods for two weeks.

The winning, or rather loosing, teacher had to wear our school mascot suit, a Cardinal suit, to greet the students at the beginning of school one day. And, they had to dance during halftime of the homecoming football game wearing the mascot suit. Students and faculty members put pennies in the jar of teachers they didn't want to wear the suit, and put silver money and paper money into the jar of teachers who they wanted to wear the suit.

Our efforts sparked a lot of interest amongst students and teachers alike and we ended up with a great result … over $500 raised to help COTA make miracles!”

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COTA News

One Million Miracles … How You Can Help

The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) is proud to be endorsed by many service organizations that are helping to raise funds and awareness. Join Kiwanis International (including Key Clubs and Circle K Clubs), The American Legion, and Optimist International by partnering with COTA to help make a miracle for a transplant family.

Talk to organizations you belong to about becoming COTA Miracle Makers.

Go to www.COTAMiracleMakers.org to get all the details.

Register your COTA Saturday activity.
You will receive a user name and password so you can access innovative resources and templates for your COTA Saturday and Million Miracles events.

Please register now!

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COTA Fast Fact

The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) provides Extensive Volunteer Training and Support. Telephone orientation sessions; training for local volunteers by a professional staff member; and materials, web-based templates and ongoing support are provided to COTA’s fundraising campaigns. Customized guidance and programs are developed to meet the unique needs of each family and volunteer group. Throughout the entire fundraising campaign, COTA’s staff is available to provide information and assistance, as well as practical solutions to fundraising challenges.

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