The Children's Organ Transplant Association has been a partner with transplant centers across the country for a quarter century. Together, COTA and transplant professionals are giving hope to transplant families.
Family Spotlight
Texas Toddler Celebrating Halloween and His New Heart with a Mighty Roar
Keegan was born on September 12, 2007, in Plano, Texas. He weighed just over five pounds. Keegan was diagnosed in utero with a congenital heart defect called Tetralogy of Fallot, and was transferred to Children’s Medical Center of Dallas immediately after birth. His heart was in much worse condition than predicted, and he underwent complete surgical repair of his tiny heart when he was not quite 24-hours-old. Over the next few days, a large hematoma developed on the wall of Keegan's heart, which severely damaged both ventricles. It became apparent that Keegan would need a heart transplant within three weeks, before multiple organ failure set in.
After only 48 hours on the transplant list, Keegan received a life-saving gift. At barely one-week-old, it is believed that Keegan is the youngest and smallest heart recipient ever in the United States.
During the post-birth whirlwind, Keegan’s parents, Gray and Maddie, thought about little except the survival of their tiny infant. However, it quickly became apparent that Keegan’s transplant-related expenses were going to be significant and would be something they would have to manage for his lifetime. During these stressful days, Gray and Maddie learned about the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA).
According to the Harrisons, “COTA is a lifeline for us. When life was unpredictable and scary, COTA allowed us to focus on what really mattered … our son. There were times during Keegan’s transplant journey that we would not have been able to pay our mortgage or buy groceries had we not had COTA assuring us our medical bills would
be covered.”
Gray and Maddie say that throughout the transplant, “COTA gave us hope that we could provide for our baby’s medical needs. The donations to COTA in honor of Keegan by people we know and love, and by complete strangers who were touched by our journey, gave us hope that we were not alone. God was caring for us in so many ways and we knew Keegan would get through this.
Today, Keegan is doing well. Although he still receives almost all of his daily calories from a specialty formula administered through a tube inserted in his stomach, he is gaining weight and getting stronger each day.
“Keegan’s heart transplant story is full of more miracles than we can count. Keegan was diagnosed in utero and transplanted at seven-days-old. He weighed only five pounds. Despite all of the odds, he waited only two days for a tiny donor heart to come from his donor angel,” said Gray and Maddie.
Keegan is an energetic, happy and spirited toddler -- who is anxiously waiting for Halloween. Clearly, his Halloween costume is the perfect choice for Keegan the
Lion Hearted.
Please visit www.cota.org and select “Find a COTA Family” to locate a transplant family in your area needing financial and/or volunteer assistance.
Mr. Skelton’s idea of a family get-together is not typical of most family gatherings.
What do you think about when you recall your own family gatherings? You might remember a particular meal cooked by Grandmother, playing board games after supper, a stomach ache from too much to eat or an overdose of sun and sand from a day at the beach. Whatever you recall, your memories of the times spent with family are likely vivid and endearing, highlighting meaningful memories of years past and hopes for the future.
One family’s tradition is to rent a beach house on the coast each summer. All of the family gathers together to share in cooking “seafood stew,” play wild card matches and frolic on the beach. On the last evening, the culminating event is always a gathering to decide on the distribution of Grandfather and Grandmother’s year-end gifts to charitable causes. Each of the family members has a chance to participate in sharing family resources with those in need. It’s a family tradition well worth emulating.
What family traditions do you have worth emulating? Your family gatherings are likely times for sharing and caring with your immediate family, but also a place where you think about creating memories for the future. The traditions you create will have a lasting impact on those you love most. So consider making traditions that have meaning and will be remembered for years to come.
To help you make wise estate planning decisions, please contact Rick Lofgren at the Children's Organ Transplant Association for a no obligation (and free) informational brochure. You can email Rick at rick@cota.org or call him at 800.366.2682.
Autumn is often referred to as “harvest time,” a reference to the business of agriculture. Fall historically has been the time crops were harvested, processed and stored, and people “took stock” to ensure that families would survive until they were able to begin the planting and harvesting cycle again in spring.
For COTA families waiting for a miracle, autumn is like the other seasons … they are defined by hope, anxiety and the knowledge that their miracle typically takes place only after tragedy befalls another family.
So how can COTA’s Miracle Makers “Take Stock”?
Have you become a designated organ donor? How about your spouse, friends and other family members? Making the decision to help other people receive the gift of life is the first step. Perhaps you can provide a miracle. If you need an organ donor card, click here to download a donor card.
Organ transplantation is one of the most miraculous medical breakthroughs of the past 60 years. Unfortunately, there simply are not enough organs available to help everyone in need. As a result, 19 people die every day waiting to receive an organ transplant.
Deciding to be an organ donor is a big decision. Make an informed decision. Here are answers to a couple frequently asked questions:
Q: Who can become a donor?
A: You should always consider yourself a potential organ donor. Your medical condition at the time of death will determine what organs and tissues can be donated.
Q: What organs and tissues can I donate?
A: Organs include the heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, liver and intestines. Tissues include corneas, skin, bone, heart valves, tendons and vessels.
Q: Will my decision to become an organ and tissue donor affect the quality of my medical care?
A: No. Organ and tissue recovery takes place only after all efforts to save your life have been exhausted and death has been legally declared. The doctors working to save your life are entirely separate from the medical team involved in recovering organs and tissues.
Will you help raise funds for a COTA family? The first step is to simply make a donation. Maybe you want to give to help a specific family. Perhaps you would like to honor another person through a gift to COTA. COTA has many ways giving options. Click here on this link to learn about Donation Options. Maybe you have time to help raise funds for COTA. Would you like to organize an event to raise funds or would you like to join and effort that has already begun?
No matter how you are moved or what is the best fit for you, COTA is here to help you find a great fit -- and help you ‘take stock’. Please click here below to Learn More about how we can help you … and about how you can help us.
For more ideas for making a lasting memory for a loved one or assisting a COTA family move one step closer to receiving a miracle, click here
or call 800.366.2682, extension 225.
With 110,000 people (some 15,000 of whom are children) on the national organ waiting list, the number of families facing a transplant has never been so staggering. In turn, the need for an organization like COTA has never been greater. In the past two years, COTA has experienced an increase over 30% in terms of the number of families who began working with us. This year, we expect to help even more.
The problem? In order to be placed on the organ waiting list, a family has to show they can pay for the transplant -- either through insurance or an assistance program. Unfortunately no insurance or assistance program covers all of the expenses related to a transplant. That is where COTA comes in.
COTA raises funds to help with transplant-related expenses … funds that are used to ensure kids get their second chance at life. But we need your help to continue our life-saving mission.
So what can you do?
Give a gift. COTA makes it easy to donate. Many of our donors make a contribution using our secure website. Clicking here gets you started.
Get involved. A great way to help is to get involved with a COTA community campaign. Perhaps you would like to attend an event or make an in-kind donation. Or maybe you want to find a COTA family near you who needs financial assistance. Clicking here gets you on your way.
Remember, 100% of funds you donate are available for families’ transplant-related expenses. Unlike many charitable organizations, donations to COTA are not reduced by merchant or other fees.
Here is COTA’s promise -- no matter how or why you give to COTA, we will use those funds to help families in need.
Is now the time for you to consider making a donation in honor of a friend or
family member?
As you think about your year-end giving, is now the time to designate a portion of that giving to COTA, so that we can continue to provide our services at no charge to families?
Might you consider foregoing an anniversary, holiday or birthday gift in order to make a donation to COTA, and encourage others to do the same?
Please contact us to learn of creative ways you can help Give Hope and Make Miracles for a child, teen or young adult who needs your assistance.
COTA is committed to providing assistance to children and young adults who need a life-saving transplant and in helping our Miracle Makers find creative ways to raise funds toward that effort. For more information about COTA and how you can help, please click here MiracleMakerInfo@cota.org or call 800.366.2682, extension 225.
Extensive Volunteer Support Customized guidance and programs are developed to meet the unique needs of
each community volunteer group. COTA's staff provides practical solutions to
fundraising challenges.
Keegan was born on September 12, 2007, in Plano, Texas. He weighed just over five pounds. Keegan was diagnosed in utero with a congenital heart defect called Tetralogy of Fallot, and was transferred to Children’s Medical Center of Dallas immediately after birth. His heart was in much worse condition than predicted, and he underwent complete surgical repair of his tiny heart when he was not quite 24-hours-old. Over the next few days, a large hematoma developed on the wall of Keegan's heart, which severely damaged both ventricles. It became apparent that Keegan would need a heart transplant within three weeks, before multiple organ failure set in. 
Autumn is often referred to as “harvest time,” a reference to the business of agriculture. Fall historically has been the time crops were harvested, processed and stored, and people “took stock” to ensure that families would survive until they were able to begin the planting and harvesting cycle again in spring. 
With 110,000 people (some 15,000 of whom are children) on the national organ waiting list, the number of families facing a transplant has never been so staggering. In turn, the need for an organization like COTA has never been greater. In the past two years, COTA has experienced an increase over 30% in terms of the number of families who began working with us. This year, we expect to help even more.
