Help Isaac Live Life Without Limits: Support COTA in Honor of His Heart Transplant Journey

Isaac is the kind of 17-year-old who lights up every room. Whether he’s cracking jokes with friends or lifting weights to grow stronger, he embraces every moment with gratitude and courage. He’s a fearless spirit; someone who refuses to let life’s challenges slow him down.

But in December 2023, Isaac’s life took a sudden and terrifying turn. A trip to the emergency room for what seemed like appendicitis, was actually abdominal pain caused by a lack of blood to his intestines; his heart was failing. He was transferred to pediatric intensive care in Oregon, but after 36 hours with worsening symptoms, he had to be flown on specialized medical transport to Seattle Children’s Hospital where he could receive expert pediatric cardiac intensive care. To make the transport safely, he had to be completely sedated and undergo a procedure to place a temporary pump in his heart through his groin vessels. When he arrived at Seattle Children’s, he was unstable. It was a dangerous time for him, and his heart failure continued to worsened rapidly so much so that he needed ECMO, an advanced life-support system, just to survive. Despite the best efforts of his team of doctors, Isaac’s heart could not recover, and a ventricular assist device (VAD) became the only option to keep him alive while he waits for a transplant.

During the VAD surgery, the temporary pump that was placed to keep him alive while he was transported to Seattle was removed. Unfortunately, his femoral artery was damaged from the device and a clot formed. To give him the ability to walk and move normally, his femoral artery needed to be fixed and the clot removed. This necessitated transport to an adult hospital for another surgery with a vascular surgeon. The surgery was successful, and now Isaac will have no limits to his mobility from the injury to his artery. Another hurdle cleared.

Isaac endured multiple procedures, ECMO, open heart surgery, and vascular surgery in the span of five and a half weeks and walked out of Seattle Children’s weakened, but on his own steam.

How Isaac Lives Today

The resilience he’s shown since has been nothing short of extraordinary.

With the VAD—essentially a mechanical pump that acts as his heart—Isaac has adjusted to a life that few can imagine. He carries several pounds of batteries and equipment everywhere he goes and must always stay connected to a power source. He can’t be near water, which means no swimming or carefree showers. Yet, Isaac refuses to let the device define him.

Unlike most teenagers in his situation, Isaac lives as if the VAD doesn’t exist. He lifts weights, eats well, and takes his health seriously, always pushing himself to stay strong. His doctors marvel at his attitude, saying he should be the poster kid for VADs. Isaac looks forward to the day he can ditch the batteries and restrictions and embrace life with freedom—a transplant is his only path to that future.

While the transplant will give Isaac an improved quality of life, it’s just the beginning of a lifelong journey. He’ll require specialized care and medication forever to protect his new heart.

How You Can Make a Difference:

1. Pray and send healing wishes for Isaac as he takes on this life-changing journey.
2. Donate to COTA in honor of Isaac’s heart to directly support a lifetime of transplant-related expenses.
3. Share Isaac’s story to inspire others to join this fight

Isaac has been blessed with incredible support from his family and friends, but this journey is one he can’t navigate alone. But together with you he can. 100% of donations to COTA in honor of Isaac’s heart will go toward his transplant-related expenses. Every prayer and donation will help Isaac focus on what matters most—living the fearless, full life he’s worked so hard to reclaim.

Picture Isaac at the beach, laughing with friends, diving into the waves—no batteries, no restrictions, just freedom. Imagine him conquering life’s challenges with the same unstoppable determination he shows every day. With a new heart, Isaac won’t just survive; he’ll thrive.

Pray, send best wishes, and donate now to be part of Isaac’s journey. Together, we can give him the power to live life without limits.

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.