Michael Latcham was born December 12, 2004, as a meconium baby.  The term ‘meconium baby’ means that Michael swallowed a mixture of meconium and amniotic fluid while coming out of the birth canal.  Meconium aspiration syndrome is a leading cause of severe illness and death in 5 to 10 percent of births, but Michael is a fighter.  On the day of his birth Michael was medically transported to University of Iowa Children’s Hospital where his family was told most likely he would not make it.  Remember Michael is a fighter, and after he was placed on Bypass twice and spent his first three months of life in the hospital, he survived.  Michael could have given up, but, like the true warrior that he is, he wrestled with immune issues, oxygen dependence, many doctor visits and hospitalizations and he fought and managed to make it through to the 12th grade.  Unfortunately, Michael’s lungs have not improved.  Last December, soon after he turned 18, he caught a para flu which further damaged his lungs.  Did Michael the warrior give up?  He did not!  While in ICU and with many prayers and God’s providence he wrestled his way back to life and his family.  The news was delivered after his last bout with illness that for him to continue the fight for life he would need a lung transplant.  Michael loves video games, football and WWE, and has dreams of walking across the stage of Moline High School to receive his diploma, of driving a car and continuing to attend SCW matches in the Quad Cities and attending a WWE match in person.  He attended Grandview and Bethany churches and was a regular at youth group when health permitted.  Michael is one of the nicest young men you would want to meet.  Michael adds so much love and compassion to this world that we will fight with him to get this lung transplant.  Please give to COTA to help our lung warrior continue to live and bless our world, medical staff and his 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.