COTA for Elizabeth A

Our Story

As most of you know, Elizabeth’s health has declined in the last year and is to the point now where she is beginning the process of seeking double lung and liver transplants. This is to be expected with Cystic Fibrosis and she has known for a long time that this would eventually be a door she needed to walk through. Part of the process for the transplants is making sure she has a good support network in place. This includes not only people who can be caretakers, but also emotional and financial support for all the in between moments. She will be traveling back and forth to Seattle, as will Tim and Ruby (her parents), to be with her for these appointments. Jamie will be there as much as possible but he also has to maintain his job (and health insurance), as well as hold down the home front. 

Those of you who have known her for any amount of time can recognize the signs of life lived with intention, creativity, and curiosity.  At a party or gathering, the lucky ones are those who realize sitting in a quiet corner conversing with her is where rich meaning can be found. This has not changed. As you know, Elizabeth has been navigating these waters of CF her whole life, and her ethic on life and living well has not changed. She will always be the artist, writer and philosopher forging new paths in feminist spirituality and constantly challenging the ideas of what it means to live a full life. Even in this time where health concerns are taking a front seat we are reminded that they never get to fully dictate the terms.  Elizabeth sets the tone for this dynamic by always facing her health issues not with a warrior’s stance but an eager eye for how it informs how to live well in the midst of disease. 

This page will be for us to communicate directly with you about any health updates, and is how you can donate to COTA in Elizabeth’s honor. Thank you all so much.

— Mollie

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.