COTA for Emma Caroline

Our Story

Emma is our 10-year-old little firecracker baby girl. (She was born on July 3^rd!) Emma was born weighing a little less than six pounds and has always had the biggest personality.

Emma’s life was just like any other healthy child’s until February 2021. Emma had a prolonged seizure and was hospitalized for a few days. She was treated for a couple of years by a great neurologist and then released from their care. 

Emma was able to start taking dance classes and soon fell in love with it. When not dancing she would be found outdoors playing with her friends and siblings. We never thought that our little girl would be hit with a new life-changing diagnosis just a few years later.

We went to Emma’s 10-year-old checkup and everything changed. I had always thought that she was just slim like me when I was younger but the doctor was concerned. We were sent home to await the results of her bloodwork. Two days later we received her results and our journey with the UNC Nephrology team began.

We took Emma to her first nephrology appointment less than two weeks later. We were told that day that Emma would need a kidney transplant before her 18th birthday. After more bloodwork and tests we found out the cause of her kidney disease.

Emma has a genetic mutation of her NPHP1 gene that has caused her kidneys to be abnormally small for her age. This has led to her low energy, being underweight, and her kidneys having to work harder to support her body.

Emma is currently waiting for a kidney transplant. She is looking forward to being able to get back to dance and feel normal again. We appreciate your prayers and know that God has our little girl in his hands. If you feel led to contribute to COTA for Emma Caroline we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. 

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.