Genesis is a beautiful, silly, happy little girl who was born on October 6th, with a life threatening, rare blood disease called Griscelli Syndrome type 2, with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis. Many children with this disease succumb to it in early childhood without aggressive treatment and a bone marrow transplant.

Genesis lived at the Phoenix Children’s NICU from the time she was born, until she was transferred to the Heme/Onc floor to have her bone marrow transplant, and was subsequently discharged at 4 months old, leaving the hospital for the first time in her life.

Genesis received her life saving bone marrow transplant on December 26th and 27th at the age of just 2 1/2 months old, after weeks of chemotherapy and steroids.

She is now over a year post transplant, but our battle is not over, and we still need help with transplant related costs as this is a “lifelong” treatment, and she has to be continually monitored. This is why we’ve partnered with COTA for assistance with transplant-related expenses.

We still have monthly visits- 3 hours away from home to our treating facility, Phoenix Children’s CCBD. Depending on Genesis’ status, the frequency of visits can increase or decrease. Because of this, it takes a toll on gas, our vehicle, meals, and lodging, while still trying to stay afloat with our regular bills.

As Genesis’ mother, I am the only one trained to care for her, and because of the lack of support, I am unable to work to cover many of these additional costs, which causes us to struggle and is very stressful.

Please consider donating to COTA for Genesis to assist with a lifetime of transplant-related expenses.

Genesis has an older brother named Azriel, who loves his baby sister very much.

Our little family is hoping our sweet Genesis continues to soldier on, and recover from the intense treatment she received as an infant, as we monitor her very closely for the success of her transplant, and any secondary post-transplant complications.

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.