Our Story

Meet Jude! Isn’t he adorable? Jude is the son of Nicole and Josef Ward and little brother to Josiah. He loves watching Nemo and Mother Goose Club. His big bro is his favorite person in the whole world. He has the kindest soul despite his daily struggles. Jude could have just fasted for 12 + hours and the second he gets food he is offering you some too. He may be feeling bad but he will never tell you what hurts, he is so strong. He is our little big hero. ♥ 

Jude has not had an easy path.  At 4 weeks old he suffered a brain bleed due to vitamin k deficiency.  He had a craniotomy and miraculously recovered very well.  His liver was the last organ to catch up.  After months of monitoring, Jude was diagnosed with Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency.  Just this past December (2016) did his family realize how serious this was going to affect his life.  The doctors at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida, have recommended a life-saving liver transplant. Friends, family and volunteers from Coral Springs and the surrounding areas are working diligently to reach their goal of raising $75,000 for COTA in honor of Jude, to assist with transplant related expenses.

With the cost of a transplant often exceeding $500,000, many transplant families are unable to shoulder the financial burden of such a procedure. The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) is a national charity dedicated to organizing and guiding communities in raising funds for transplant-related expenses. Local volunteers are raising funds for COTA in honor of transplant patients like our little warrior, Jude Ward. The Ward family needs us. They need our help, our hope and our prayers. We hope you will join in and be apart of our efforts.