Anna Battista is a 28 year old double lung transplant recipient of 6 years.  Unfortunatly things have taken a turn for the worst and we find ourselves back in the shoes we were in 6 years ago, waiting for the call for a second life saving transplant.  Transplant is expensive, transplant patients are told this and we lived this first hand.  Thankfully through generous gifts to COTA on Anna’s behalf we have been able to aford the costs associated with transplant that are not covered by insurance.  Insurance is great and a HUGE help but there are costs they do not pay for.  Transplant in Anna’s case has required her and a caregiver to reocate to Durham, NC a whopping 1,665 miles away!  This requires us to lease an apartment in Durham, on top of our house in Colorado.  Her parents are taking turns being out there in order to manage working full time on top of caring for Anna.  However that means that the person who is out in Durham must take off work while they are there.  There are travel expenses both short term such as driving to appointments and rehab daily, gettting caregivers here and back home and long term as Anna and a caregiver will be required to travel to Durham after we have moved home a few times a year for treatment for the rest of her life. 

The support we recieved from family, friends and friends we have not met the first go around has been so helpful.  As a result of the support we recieved we were able to work together as a family and focus on Anna and not have to stress about the financial piece of transplant.  The money given to COTA on Anna’s behalf helped Anna to be able to live as normal life as possible.  She was able to live on her own, work and pay her own bills.  For the first time Anna was able to be independent.  This would not have been possible without COTA as her medical expenses and travel expenses for treatment far surpased her full time salery.  

COTA has been a fantastic resource that ultimatly made transplant possible for Anna.  Unfortunatly as Anna faces a second transplant these costs all come back.  We need help again.  The money raised the first time was awesome and lasted for a long time but we will not be able to afford a second round wihtout the support from others.  If you are able we appreciate anything you can give.  If you can not give please share!  

Thank you so much for all of your support in the past and future!  It means the world to us!

Anna and the rest of the Battista/ Thacker family!

The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) helps children and young adults who need a life-saving transplant by providing fundraising assistance and family support. COTA is the nation’s only fundraising organization solely dedicated to raising life-saving dollars in honor of transplant-needy children and young adults. 100% of each contribution made to COTA in honor of our patients helps meet transplant-related expenses. COTA’s services are free to our families, and gifts to COTA are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.