Cora was born in July of 2011 with a condition called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. That essentially means she was born with half a heart.  Her mother was able to kiss her very purple, sweet cheeks before she was immediately rushed away to the NICU.  Within her first week of life she would undergo 2 heart surgeries.

Cora is a fighter!  Despite only having minimal heart function she was able to hit all her milestones as an infant and toddler. She was like any other child: laughing and playing with the occasional tantrums thrown in for good measure.  She neither understood nor cared about her limitations.  As a result of the condition her lips, fingers and toes are constantly purple and she has a hard time maintaining her weight, especially as she becomes older.  

In 2015, at the age of 4, Cora went for her third and hopefully final heart surgery in an effort to delay any need for a heart transplant until she was much older.  It was then doctors discovered her heart function was much poorer than anticipated and she was too frail to undergo the complex surgery.   It became apparent the only solution for Cora was a heart transplant and much sooner than anyone wanted.  Over the last 2 years Cora has become increasingly more tired making it difficult, if not impossible at times, for her to keep up with other children.  This is one of the tell-tale signs of an ever-decreasing heart function.  So in August of 2017, at the recommendation of her medical team she was officially placed on the organ transplant list. 

UPDATE: Cora and her mom are all checked in at Seattle Children’s Hospital and waiting for surgery which will be around noon today, September 3rd 2018. They got in last night and Cora has had several labs done and had a little something to eat, then they both rested after about 1 am. Mom reports she is in good spirits, which is excellent to hear! She has a strength that runs deep and we’re all so proud of her perseverance with everything she’s been through! There’s not much news yet from Dr’s, still a little early for that. We’ll post another update again later today! Thank you all for the prayers! Please keep them coming! It’s remarkable the support and love shown for Cora. Thank you!

• Cora has a very dedicated local team who has joined forces with the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) to raise funds in her honor.
• Your donation will raise desperately needed funds in honor of Cora to be used to assist with transplant related expenses.
• Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) is nationally recognized Not-For-Profit 501(c)3
• Every dollar raised in honor of COTA’s patients, like Cora, is used for transplant-related expenses.
• COTA provides support to families and patients for a lifetime.

Thank you for taking a moment to consider how you may assist in our fundraising efforts. Certainly making a donation at www.COTAforTeamCoraS.com is the most direct way to help.