The fundraising goal has recently been updated per a conversation between James’ family and Rick Lofgren, COTA President & CEO. This letter below from Rick explains the recent change:

Greetings from COTA!

I want to congratulate the COTA for James volunteer team for raising funds for the campaign in honor of James – you are off to a great start!

When I set the campaign fundraising goals with each of our families, I suggest a goal to COTA patients that I believe is needed for any patient’s long-term expenses and transplant-related costs, and the goal generally reflects the next four to five years of out-of-pocket costs. For example, most of our patients will have $5,000 to $7,500 in annual co-payments, deductibles, and medications, as well as additional costs for an extended in-patient stay, clinic visits and a similar amount for travel to the transplant center. 

In this case I spoke with Anthony this week and suggested that we raise the goal to better reflect what I believe are the true long-term expenses that a patient will incur in the future. Because of this, I have increased the goal for the COTA for James campaign from $40,000 to $60,000 to reflect what I believe will be actual costs going forward based on his in-patient stays and wait. 

Please know there are many factors in this and that I bear the responsibility of justifying this to anyone who asks, and am happy to do this as I believe that it is the right thing to do given James’ health status.

Thank you for all the work and support you have provided to this point, and please keep James in your prayers as he continues to wait for his life-saving transplant.