Christy Fessler, a professor at Nazareth University in Rochester, NY, was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) at the age of 2. Today at 40, she is in need of lung, kidney and liver transplants (began when she was 37). It’s been quite a journey for Christy, as it is for any CF patient! I’d like to share with you, in her words, her recent experience as it relates to her CF.

On October 2, 2023, I was sent to the hospital for what seemed like a bad respiratory infection. Later that day, however, I apparently crashed. My brain was overloaded with ammonia and not enough oxygen. I was intubated, placed on a feeding tube, etc. I was unconscious for days, and seemed to be getting worse. Loved ones were told that I may not pull through, and if I did, I may not ever leave the hospital.

I did, however, miraculously pull through. I spent 22 days in the ICU, and over a month in the hospital total. I’ve had a number of similar trips to the hospital since, in which I develop hepatic encephalopathy (causing major confusion and motor issues), due to high ammonia levels. Ultimately, my transplant team needed me in Pittsburgh so that they could monitor me during these hospitalizations. That was over a year ago now. I am healthy, but still awaiting the call. 

Paired with COTA, we have raised close to my original goal of $65,000 (I could NOT be more appreciative!!). We have been using these funds for Pittsburgh rent, groceries, prescriptions, insurance, hospital parking, and more. It has been an incredible blessing. However, over a year of unexpected rent in Pittsburgh has eaten through most of the funds, and we will still need to be able to cover the costs involved in the actual transplant process. This new goal is simply to replenish the funds in order to address the coverage that we still need. I have also moved back to Rochester, thanks to the fact that my health has stabilized! This should help to preserve any funds that we are able to raise here on out. If you want to help, donations of ANY amount to COTA in my honor will help, or please share the link.

The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) helps children who need a life-saving transplant by providing fundraising assistance and family support. COTA also works with individuals of any age with a single-gene disorder such as Polycystic Kidney Disease, Cystic Fibrosis or Sickle Cell Disease. COTA is the nation’s only fundraising organization solely dedicated to raising life-saving dollars in honor of transplant-needy families. 100% of each contribution made to COTA in honor of our patients helps meet transplant-related expenses. COTA’s services are free of charge and gifts to COTA are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.