When I was born I was a very happy girl, but at 6 months I began with my health problems. At first they detected Hydrocephalus, and they had to place a valve in my head to prevent its growth; then at 9 months I had to have surgery on my right lung because there was a lot of infection. After many studies at 11 months, the doctors gave my parents the news that I had a medical condition called Cystic Fibrosis.

Living with Cystic Fibrosis has not been easy, having to take many medicines every day, treatments, therapies, problems with my weight, hospitalizations, and plus the divorce of my parents… that and much more made my life more complicated, but despite everything I have never given up. My life has been different from others because I have lost many things that cannot be recovered, but last year everything collapsed; the doctors told me that the capacity of my lungs was only 20%. For this reason they had to hospitalize me and put me on the waiting list for my double lung transplant. The most difficult thing was leaving my family and my pet in Los Angeles and having to live in the city of Palo Alto, in Stanford Children’s Hospital.

For 8 long months full of fear, uncertainty, anxiety, depression and after praying to God, my miracle finally came. On November 9, 2022, I received the call; I got a visit to my room from my Doctor where I was filled with emotion and tears and my Doctor told me “an offer arrived and my colleagues and I believe that they are the right lungs for you!” You can imagine what I was feeling at that moment — I cried and the only thing I said was thank you God.

After that happened very quickly, my surgery was successful, but the hardest part was about to begin. Once again I had to be strong and now after 4 months, even though I’ve had to return several times to the hospital, everything has been worth it … to be able to breathe without oxygen, to sleep without a bipap machine, to walk without getting tired and most importantly I don’t cough anymore. If you only knew the happiness that I felt. I know that this is not over, in fact this is just the beginning, thank God I have a second chance at life and I am going to make the best of it. Thanks to my family and friends for always giving me their unconditional support, but above all thanks to my donor, because thanks to them I am sharing my story with you and I just want to tell you that sometimes we have no other choice, just be strong and everything will be okay, nothing is forever. I would appreciate your help for me and my mom, by donating to COTA in my honor, thank you and god bless you.

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.