COTA for Mary Ashley Strong

Our Story

Mary Ashley was born with Congential Nephrotic Syndrome.  She was fortunate enough to recieve a kidney transplant at 20 months of age that saved her life!  However, 10 years ago a surgery that was intended to help her ended up causing her to reject that kidney.  She began dialysis at the age of 9 and has been sustained by this 3-5 days a week ever since. She has had over 30 surgeries and more admissions in the hospital than we can count, yet she smiles and laughs with the most amazing determination and positive attitude ever.  Currently, she does not have kidneys at all.  Due to having a previous transplant and blood transfusions, her antibody levels are extremely high making it very difficult for her to be a match for a kidney.  Fortunately, there is a treatment available to help decrease those antibodies.  The only place to get this is at Cedar Sinai in Los Angeles.  These treatments will consist of a minimum of 6-8 weeks of IV infusions of a coctail designed to help those in Mary Ashley’s situation so that they may be able to finaly match to a donor after years of trying.  The success rates for this are high and this is her very best shot at getting her the life saving kidney she needs.  Mary Ashley lives in Charleston SC, so this will entail numerous flights and extended stays for Mary Ashley and her famiily.  Mary Ashley is a true light in this world that bring happiness and joy wherever she goes. We as a family are so grateful for all of the love, prayers, support, and positive energy of the many people following her journey and lifting us up along the way.  We are so blessed that many people have tried to give her a kidney. Now, we need to do all that we can to help her be able to match one of them.  Thank you all for caring and being a part of her story.  While there have been so many scary and devistating moments in the last 18 years, we have been shown so much goodness and kindness in this world and have had the most amazing people come into our lives because of her.  Thank 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.