Seventeen years ago our family started a journey that would ultimately be the road we are currently walking today. We were told before Collin was born that he had severe heart defects and that he probably wouldn’t survive past birth without any interventions.

Collin has endured 3 open-heart surgeries, one of them causing a disease called PLE which led to 2 other surgeries. We traveled to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia both times. Those surgeries were not a cure but more of a Band-Aid until the next intervention.  

This year during a routine heart cath we learned that his heart was failing him. That news was devastating for us all, and then after more testing, we were told he also needs a liver transplant due to his Fontan circulation damage. We are terrified at where this journey will take us, but Collin is a brave kid and we will support him through it. Transplants are not a cure … they come with their own challenges.

 Chris and I will be taking unpaid leave from work due to the hospital stays and doctors’ appointments to keep on top of rejection. We have set a COTA campaign fundraising goal of $100,000 and every bit of support of COTA for Collin’s Heart Journey is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for following along and rallying around us thus far. It is greatly appreciated.

With love,

The Gibson 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.