COTA for Shafer D

Our Story

Shafer Bray Daves, son of Kevin & Jada Daves, was born October 15, 2009 with an extremely rare medical condition of which there have been only 200 diagnosed cases in the world. The syndrome is caused by a genetic mutation that includes chronic kidney disease leading to failure by age 3, kidney cancer (known as Wilms’ Tumor) in many cases, and other difficulties. Shafer’s kidney function declined rapidly due to End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) in October 2010 resulting in a double nephrectomy (full kidney removal surgery). To bridge to transplant, Shafer was on peritoneal dialysis eleven hours a day to sustain his life, and received his nutrition primarily through a feeding tube. Shafer’s medical team approved his mother to be the living donor for her son, as she was a 6 antigen perfect match. At 20-months old, Shafer was successfully transplanted on June 22, 2011 at the Rascal Flatts Surgery Center at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashville, TN.

It has been a miraculous journey as many supporters have donated financially to COTA so they can assist with Shafer’s transplant-related expenses to pay for his numerous appointments with his medical team, hospitalizations, lodging & food while in Nashville, gas/mileage, ongoing monthly medications, etc. Even with great insurance, the costs are alarming to families who experience a lifesaving transplant.

Shafer is now 16 years old and recovering from his second transplant which occurred on April 28, 2025 at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashville, TN. His 23-year-old sister provided this incredible gift as she was another 6-antigen perfect match kidney! The sibling surgery garnered the attention of The Tennessean with a lengthy feature. Click here to read.