COTA for Adeleena's Journey

Our Story

Adeleena Martinez is a smart, brave, & strong 3-year-old who has been diagnosed with a rare liver disease: Non cirrhotic portal hypertension. Our journey started in November of 2023 when we took her to urgent care thinking she had pink eye, and at that point they noticed that her oxygen levels were lower than normal. She was then admitted into the hospital where they found she had rhinovirus. They sent us home after three days of being there and supporting her oxygen needs. During her next check-up, they noticed her oxygen levels weren’t getting better, so she was readmitted back into the hospital. After a week of testing and imaging they told us it would be best if we airlifted her to Colorado Children’s Hospital because they were unable treat her further in New Mexico.

After two weeks of more tests, CT scans & MRIs, they decided to do a liver biopsy as well as a heart procedure. We found out that her liver is the cause of her low oxygen saturation, which is called hepatopulmonary syndrome. All of this is caused by a rare liver disease called non cirrhotic portal hypertension and she is in need a liver transplant and has been placed onto the transplant list awaiting a liver. With us being out of New Mexico, away from our support system and not working so we can be bedside with her and support her fully through this new journey, we are looking at some financial issues that will affect us being able to pay our bills back home and sustain our life in NM. As well as having to travel back and forth from CO to ABQ after the transplant for all follow ups with her liver team. So, we’ve partnered with COTA for assistance with transplant-related expenses. All we want is for our baby girl to be healthy again so she can be the sweet, fun, bubbly, lovable little girl that she is. Thank you so much for all the continued love, support & prayers for Adeleena.

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.