My name is Jamir Mingo, and I was diagnosed with Stage 5 End-Stage Renal Disease at birth on August 22. I spent the first three months of my life in the NICU due to collapsed lungs on top of other health issues, and a condition called posterior urethral valves, which led to complete kidney failure. Since then, I have undergone numerous hospital visits, medical appointments, and surgeries.

I currently rely on a feeding tube for medications and feeds, also, nightly dialysis treatments lasting nine hours. I also require multiple medications and weekly injections to manage my condition. I am now awaiting a life-saving kidney transplant.

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.