Our Story

The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) helps children and young adults like Jade 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.
 
Jade is 17 years old and is getting ready to start her senior year in High School. Last year, in May 2017 (when she was 16), Jade was diagnosed with Lupus Nephritis (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus). Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks its own tissues. It can affect the joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels and can cause widespread inflammation and tissue damage in the affected organs.
 
Initially, for the first 6 months after learning of her Lupus diagnosis, Jade was required to undergo a 6 month course of Cytoxan (a type of Chemo drug) treatment. The doctors were hoping that they could get Jade’s kidneys functioning again before turning to dialysis, so she tried outpatient treatments of infusions of all sorts in order to try and get the kidneys to heal.
Unfortunately, the treatments were unsuccessful. As a result, Jade is currently on kidney dialysis 3 times every week, for three hours each treatment. Her doctors have recommended that she receive a kidney transplant. She is now on the transplant list and they are hoping to identify a donor very soon. Once ready, her transplant will take place at Dornbecher Children’s Hospital (at Oregon Health and Sciences University) in Portland, Oregon.
 
Because Jade is on dialysis, she has not been able to take a full course of study in High School this past year. If she does not get a transplant this summer, it will likely affect her education this year and may delay her graduating with the rest of her class next year in June 2019.
 
The chemo treatments affected Jade and caused her hair to fall out. It grew back in curly, which she really does not like. She is often fatigued which either comes from the Lupus or from the fact that she needs to get up at 4:30 AM three days a week to get to her dialysis treatments.
 
Jade also has many dietary restrictions. She has a limit of daily intake for Phosphorus, Potassium, and Sodium. She also has a restriction of 40 ounces of liquid per day. Things that she cannot have because of those restrictions are: any kind of dairy, any beans, bananas, oranges, nectarines, melons, and dried fruit, vegetables (no night shade vegetables), chocolate, soup.
She currently has to take 12 medications daily and two others that are taken “as needed”.
Jade has two younger brothers and lives with her mom, Angie and her brothers, here in the Pacific Northwest.
 
Some of Jade’s interests are: Fan Fiction, Anime, Harry Potter, and Cosplay! Thanks to Make-A-Wish, Jade will be headed to New York City with her mom in October 2018 to attend the New York Comic Con !!
Please help us raise money for COTA in honor of Jade!!

Jade Samples

Vancouver, WA

Transplant Type: Kidney

Transplant Status: Transplanted

Goal: $75,000.00

Raised: $34,343 of $75,000 goal

Raised by 161 contributors

Support this Campaign

See if your company will match your gift »

Recent Contributions

James Samples

June 29, 2024

Jack Schrater

June 03, 2024

James Samples

May 30, 2024

James Samples

April 29, 2024

James Samples

March 29, 2024

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Photos

Suzanne Billings Memorial Scholarship Award Event 4 May 19

Posted

See All Photos »

Events

See All Events »

Updates

Suzanne Billings Memorial Scholarship Award Event 4 May 19

Posted

Jade receives Suzanne Billings Memorial Scholarship!

Posted

On 17 April 19  Jade was surprised at her dialysis run by Jill from Northwest Kidney Kids to let her know she was awarded the Suzanne Billings Memorial... Continue Reading »

HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY, JADE!

Posted

Happy Monday! It’s Jade’s 18th birthday today! Continue Reading »

GREAT NEWS and recap of events!

Posted

02/11/2019  Hi Everyone, We got some exciting news today and as I was thinking about how I would share this with everyone I started thinking about what we... Continue Reading »

Organ transplants, but only for those who can afford them

Posted

Have you ever wondered about the process for getting an organ transplant? What about the cost? It is a very difficult, expensive, and draining process. Our fundraising goal... Continue Reading »

Volunteers for COTA, in honor of Jade Samples

Posted

We are looking for additional people who can help us with our fundraising effort for COTA in honor of Jade Samples. Jade is a 17 year old Vancouver... Continue Reading »

TOTES FOR HOPE – in Honor of Jade

Posted

  We were recently contacted by Erin, who is an independent consultant for Thirty-One Gifts, living here in Vancouver and goes to church with Jade. She would like to... Continue Reading »

Visit to the Zoo

Posted

Back to School

Posted

Jade was featured in her high school’s newsletter this month! Check it out! Continue Reading »

Subscribe for Updates

Name

Our Story

The Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA) helps children and young adults like Jade 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...

Continue Reading »

Jade Samples

Vancouver, WA

Transplant Type: Kidney

Transplant Status: Transplanted

Goal: $75,000.00

Raised: $34,343 of $75,000 goal

Raised by 161 contributors

Support this Campaign

See if your company will match your gift »

Updates

Suzanne Billings Memorial Scholarship Award Event 4 May 19

Posted

Jade receives Suzanne Billings Memorial Scholarship!

Posted

On 17 April 19  Jade was surprised at her dialysis run by Jill from Northwest Kidney Kids to let her know she was awarded the Suzanne Billings Memorial... Continue Reading »

HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY, JADE!

Posted

Happy Monday! It’s Jade’s 18th birthday today! Continue Reading »

GREAT NEWS and recap of events!

Posted

02/11/2019  Hi Everyone, We got some exciting news today and as I was thinking about how I would share this with everyone I started thinking about what we... Continue Reading »

Organ transplants, but only for those who can afford them

Posted

Have you ever wondered about the process for getting an organ transplant? What about the cost? It is a very difficult, expensive, and draining process. Our fundraising goal... Continue Reading »

Volunteers for COTA, in honor of Jade Samples

Posted

We are looking for additional people who can help us with our fundraising effort for COTA in honor of Jade Samples. Jade is a 17 year old Vancouver... Continue Reading »

TOTES FOR HOPE – in Honor of Jade

Posted

  We were recently contacted by Erin, who is an independent consultant for Thirty-One Gifts, living here in Vancouver and goes to church with Jade. She would like to... Continue Reading »

Visit to the Zoo

Posted

Back to School

Posted

Jade was featured in her high school’s newsletter this month! Check it out! Continue Reading »