Sienna had a cardiac arrest at 6 weeks of age which resulted in damage to both kidneys. We were initially told that she would need a transplant as soon as she reached one year of age. She was on peritoneal dialysis from 6 weeks of age to almost one year. Miraculously, her kidney function improved and she was able to live without dialysis for 10 years. She went back on peritoneal dialysis at age 10 and has been on it since.

When her kidneys began to reach the 10% threshold, we began transplant work ups and discovered that her Inferior Vena Cava was completely clotted off from that same cardiac arrest. This was a surprise and would make transplant very complicated. UCLA has spent the last year recanalizing her Inferior Vena Cava. It was a brand new procedure that had never been tried before on a child. She now has a functioning inferior vena cava and is looking forward to a traditional kidney transplant. We have partnered with the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) for assistance with transplant-related expenses.

Through all of this, Sienna has persevered. She is a straight A student who is currently serving as the Secretary of her school’s Honor Society. She is in all accelerated classes. She is also a worship leader at church. She loves to sing, dance, and act. She was point guard on her basketball team – little but mighty. She loves animals and recently started raising chickens with her little brother. She is also a HUGE Marvel fan, loves Star Wars, nature and people.

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.