The fundraising goal has recently been updated per a conversation between Aria’s family and Rick Lofgren, COTA President & CEO. This letter below from Rick explains the recent change:

Greetings from COTA!

I want to congratulate the COTA for Aria Rose volunteer team for raising funds for the campaign in honor of Aria!

When I set the campaign fundraising goals with each of our families, I suggest a goal to COTA patients that I believe is needed for any patient’s long-term expenses and transplant-related costs, and the goal generally reflects the next four to five years of out-of-pocket costs. For example, most of our patients will have $5,000 to $10,000 in annual co-payments, deductibles, and medications, as well as additional costs for an extended in-patient stay, clinic visits and a similar amount for travel to the transplant center. 

In this case I spoke with Alley this week and suggested that we raise the campaign goal in this case due to Aria’s ongoing care following her transplant earlier this summer. Because of this, I have changed the goal for the COTA for Aria Rose campaign to $50,000 to reflect what I believe will be actual costs going forward based on her ongoing transplant care. 

Please know there are many factors in this and that I bear the responsibility of justifying this to anyone who asks, and am happy to do this as I believe that it is the right thing to do given Aria’s age and post-transplant status.

Thank you for all the work and support you have provided to this point, and please keep the Palumbo family in your prayers.