Our world was turned upside down on June 11th when Hope Montanna was diagnosed with dilated cardio myocarditis… She had a persistent dry cough that lasted a few weeks so we took her to her pediatrician. They sent us to the ER at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. We were there a week. Before the diagnosis, she was a perfectly healthy girl. She was even playing softball 3 days before her hospitalization.

She was sent home in June on medication & a Zoll Defibrillator Vest for the summer. Because of this, she was unable to do the normal summer things a 13-year-old girl looks forward to doing. Swimming, riding a bike or even running around with her friends, but she handled it very well.

In late October, she received a pacemaker which we thought would put us in the clear. Unfortunately, a few weeks later she started to be nauseous and became unable to eat. After several tests, they determined this was because she was in heart failure. We were admitted back to Cincinnati Children’s where we were told that our only course of action was a Heart Pump (VAD) and then a Heart Transplant.

Through all the trials and tribulations, she has amazed everyone with her positive attitude!

On January 22nd Hope got the call a heart was available and on January 23rd she had her heart transplant. After she is released from the hospital, we are required to stay within 9 miles of the hospital for 3 months. This is not covered by insurance. The funds raised for COTA in honor of Hope will help with transplant-related expenses, such as lodging during this time as well as the medications she will be on for the rest of her life. COTA funds are available for her lifetime.

We are so incredibly proud of her strength through this whole situation! She has continued to have a positive attitude during all of this and is also motivated to help others as well. We still have a long road ahead of us but will continue to follow Hope Montanna’s courageous lead!

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.