COTA for Collin's Kidney

Our Story

Collin was born in October, 2010 with known chronic kidney disease. As a result, his body was challenged with one working kidney and stage-3 kidney disease.

Collin’s kidney function continued to decline over the next three years. In 2013, we were introduced to Shumyle Alam MD, New York Presbyterian Children’s Hospital. Dr. Alam’s proactive and cutting edge approach changed the course of Collin’s kidney health. At the time, we were preparing for total kidney failure within 18 months. Thanks to Dr. Alam, Collin’s one working kidney stabilized and remained strong for the next thirteen years!

What Collin (15) looks forward to doing again after transplant:

Collin sings in the church choir, plays the cello and piano. He misses and looks forward to playing tennis, soccer and volleyball. If he isn’t playing something, he’s reading! When he can, he reads a 500 page book in two days. He looks forward to getting back on the field and court after transplant. In the 6th grade, he joined a three-year summer program at Utah Valley University that focused on STEM education. He completed that program in the summer of 2025.

Collin loves practicing math and building engineering projects. He loves learning about science, specially the human body. Collin wants to attend medical school and become a nephrologist (kidney doctor). His goal is to help children with kidney failure. What makes him really excited is thinking about being able to share his own stories with them. He loves the idea that they will know that he can relate to their struggles.

WHAT COLLIN NEEDS NOW:

Today, Collin is in full kidney failure and is on dialysis. He is blessed to have a neighbor raise his hand and offer one of his kidneys. Collin’s transplant is scheduled for July, 2026.

Our plan is to do the transplant at Stanford University. We chose Stanford because they specialize in transplanting patients who have multiple medical conditions like Collin.

When Collin asked about raising funds to help with the high medical cost, the hospital connected him with COTA. COTA has successfully supported transplant patients for 40+ years. Collin will need a second and maybe a third kidney transplant in his life. The funds raised through COTA will offer Collin support for a lifetime of transplant-related expenses.

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. Many companies match contributions.