Elenai Grace Auger entered our world on November 18, 2025, and is already carrying more courage than most of us will ever need. In her first weeks of life, she has endured more procedures, needles, and waiting than anyone should—yet she continues to meet each day with strength, curiosity, and an intense determination that humbles everyone around her. What was once expected to be a short hospital stay has become an open-ended journey in the NICU, as Elenai now waits for a life-saving heart transplant at Duke University Hospital.

This road has required Ashley and Nick to completely reimagine what new parenthood looks like. Instead of late-night feedings at home, their days revolve around hospital rounds, medical decisions, and balancing constant vigilance with hope. Elenai’s care requires around-the-clock monitoring, specialized medications, repeated transfusions, and a highly skilled medical team that remains ready at any moment should a donor heart become available. The emotional, physical, and logistical toll is immense, but their love for Elenai never wavers.

As this waiting period continues, so do the financial demands. Extended hospital stays, lost work hours, travel, meals, and future transplant-related costs add up quickly. While insurance covers most of the medical care, many essential expenses are not covered. This is where community makes a life-changing difference through COTA for Elenai—helping to ease the burden so Nick and Ashley can focus fully on being present for Elenai.

We have partnered with the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA), a platinum GuideStar rated nonprofit who provides fundraising assistance and family support. Your tax deductible donations go directly to COTA for financial oversight in honor of Elenai Grace.  

We invite you to join the effort for Elenai Grace and her family during this critical time. Your donation to COTA for Elenai—no matter the size—supports her ongoing care and the many needs that surround a pediatric heart transplant journey. Our single goal is to provide Elenai with a chance of a quality life. If you are unable to give financially to COTA for Elenai, sharing her story, offering prayers, or holding this family in your thoughts is equally meaningful. Our family thanks you for being part of the love, hope, and strength surrounding this incredibly precious heart warrior.

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.