At just 13 years old, Daniel Barajas has already faced more medical challenges than most people experience in a lifetime. In September 2024, Daniel was diagnosed with Stage 4 chronic kidney disease. Only 9 months later, his kidney disease progressed, and he had to begin dialysis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since then, Daniel\u2019s journey has become even more difficult. Within the past five months, he has suffered two strokes, leaving his family scared and searching for answers as they continue to face the unknown. Daniel has not been able to attend school since October 2025, after his first stroke. Most days, he is tired and weak. Before his health declined, Daniel loved playing video games and enjoying life as a kid, but now he rarely has the energy to use his game console.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even through everything he is facing, Daniel continues to show incredible strength and resilience. He often tells his family how grateful he is for everything they do for him and reminds them how much he loves them. His courage, gratitude, and loving spirit continue to inspire everyone around him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daniel\u2019s family is hopeful that a kidney transplant will give him the chance to return to school, regain parts of his childhood, and look forward to a healthier future. A transplant would mean fewer medical burdens, more time to grow and thrive, and the opportunity for Daniel to simply be a kid again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Daniel waits for a lifesaving kidney transplant, his family is also facing the financial challenges that come with transplant care, dialysis, medical appointments, insurance costs, and other transplant-related expenses. Funds raised for COTA in honor of Daniel will help with transplant-related expenses and thereby ease some of the burden on his family during this difficult journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every gift to COTA for Daniel\u2019s Hope, every prayer, and every share helps bring hope to Daniel and his family. Your support means more than words can express.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Children\u2019s 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\u2019s 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\u2019s services are free to our families, and gifts to COTA are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
At just 13 years old, Daniel Barajas has already faced more medical challenges than most people experience in a lifetime. In September 2024, Daniel was diagnosed with Stage 4 chronic kidney disease. Only 9 months later, his kidney disease progressed, and he had to begin dialysis. Since then, Daniel\u2019s journey has become even more difficult. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":89,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-14","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n