COTA for Jeep Strong

Our Story

My name is Thomas Koska, aka “Jeep” since my first middle school cross country practice. I’m a 19-year-old sophomore majoring in computer engineering and a member of the Cross country/Track & field team at the University of Alabama. Roll Tide! I’m also an Eagle Scout from Troop 607, Phoenix, AZ.

My battle with leukemia started on January 25^th, 2020. I was a high-school sophomore, a straight A student, recent team State Champion in the D4 cross country team division, varsity soccer player, and the senior patrol leader in my boy scout troop. In middle school, I traveled the world with the Phoenix Boys’ Choir and was an altar boy at St Thomas the Apostle Catholic church in Phoenix. By the grace of God, all the doctors and staff at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, and support of my family and friends, I was blessed to win my first war against this ugly disease and “rung the bell” in June 2022. I returned to school and the activities I loved. During my senior year of high school, I served in the school senate, helped as a mentor at the Catholic Academy for Life Leadership, earned my Eagle Scout rank, became a National Merit Finalist, and won my first HS cross-country and track and field races, including in the 1,600 meters at the D4 State Championship. I chose to attend the University of Alabama on a full-ride academic scholarship and with the opportunity to run at the collegiate level. I finished my first year at the Capstone on the President’s list, ran my first NCAA cross-country and track races, and met many new friends.

I had a great start to the summer of 2023. Thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, I fulfilled my dream of travelling to Alaska and catching some big fish. I got my first full-time job and was getting ready for the cross-country season. In July, I started to have some back pain that I thought was caused by a fall from a camping chair. However, it did not go away and became even worse despite physical therapy. Yet I packed my car and was getting ready for a road trip to Alabama. On the day before my planned departure, I developed a fever. I postponed my trip and went to see my doctor to make sure that my leukemia had not come back…

On August 11^th, 2023, I learned that the enemy invaded my body and I would have to fight my second war. This time, it would require a full eradication of blood-producing cells in my bone marrow and getting new bone marrow stem cells from another donor person. Thank God, I don’t have to worry about my match as there are more than 200 perfect ones around the world. Before being ready for transplantation, I need to receive a few rounds of chemotherapy to destroy the leukemia cells. This and the transplantation will require spending several months in the hospital in a special ward, and about 6 years for very thorough follow-ups afterwards. I hope that next August, I will be able to pack my car again and head to Alabama to continue my studies and collegiate running. Roll Tide!

I am asking for donations to COTA in my honor to assist with transplant-related expenses.  Although my family’s insurance plan will cover a considerable amount of medical cost, I will have significant out-of-pocket medical and travel-related expenses. Once I’m back in Tuscaloosa, I will need to travel to Birmingham, AL or even back to Phoenix, AZ for follow-up care. 

Thank you so much for your donations to COTA in my honor and for sharing this link with friends and family!!!

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.