COTA for Lay Lay

Our Story

Sa’Laja was born on Christmas Day in 2008, making her our greatest gift. Over the years, she has grown into a kind, determined, and independent young woman. This year marks her senior year at Midland Valley High School, a milestone she has worked hard to reach. Recently, she celebrated earning her driver’s license and getting her first job, taking exciting steps toward adulthood. Watching her grow and achieve these accomplishments has filled our family with pride and joy.

She also has a 16-year-old sister who she has always looked out for. Their bond has been a special one, filled with love, support, and protection. Through every stage of life, her sister has been there to encourage her, stand beside her, and help her through difficult moments. During this recent medical crisis her sister’s love and concern became even more evident as our family leaned on one another for strength.

On June 5, 2026, our lives changed unexpectedly. We took her to the emergency room after noticing that her eyes and skin had turned yellow. What we thought might be a simple medical issue quickly became every parent’s worst nightmare when doctors diagnosed her with acute liver failure. She was immediately flown to Children’s Hospital of Atlanta, where her condition rapidly worsened. She stopped breathing and had to be placed on a ventilator, receive dialysis treatments, and be supported by numerous medications. Because of the severity of her illness, she was placed on the highest priority for a liver donor.

A miracle came when a liver became available. Her transplant surgery began on June 11, 2026, at 3:00 p.m., and she successfully came out of surgery around 12:30 a.m. The procedure went well, and she is now focused on recovery. It is still hard to believe that a young woman who had rarely been sick suddenly faced a life-threatening illness and a liver transplant. Today, she continues to show incredible courage as she participates in speech therapy and physical therapy. Her strength, determination, and resilience inspire everyone around her, and we are grateful every day for the gift of her recovery and the hope of a healthy future.

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.