In the heart of our community beats a tale of unimaginable courage embodied in a radiant four-year-old girl named Taliyah J. Conner. Taliyah, unlike her three siblings who carry the sickle cell trait, battles with the full weight of sickle cell disease. This condition has shadowed her since birth, marking her days not just by milestones typical of childhood but by extended hospital stays, countless medical appointments, and numerous blood transfusions.
Despite these challenges, Taliyah’s spirit remains unbroken. Her resilience is profound, her strength awe-inspiring. With a tenacity that rivals that of the fiercest warriors, Taliyah faces each day with a bravery that belies her tender age. She spends a significant portion of her life within hospital walls, enduring pain that most could scarcely comprehend, yet she greets every day with a smile and an unwavering zest for life.
Taliyah’s joys are simple yet profound. She adores the world of princesses, barbie dolls, and kitchen sets, but her heart truly soars with dinosaurs and toy cars—a testament to her vibrant, eclectic spirit. The hues of blue and green color her dreams and playtimes, reflecting the depth and calm of her favorite colors.
What sets Taliyah apart is not just her battle with sickle cell but her boundless love and empathy for others. Despite her own suffering, she radiates kindness and generosity. She dreams of becoming a doctor, inspired perhaps by her own experiences, to heal and help those around her. Taliyah, often called ‘Boss Baby’ by those who meet her, possesses a rare magnetism; she greets everyone with a hug, her warmth touching the hearts of strangers even in the aisles of grocery stores.
A beacon of hope has recently illuminated Taliyah’s path: her sister, Nabyha, is a perfect match for the bone marrow transplant that Taliyah needs. This procedure offers a potential cure for her sickle cell disease, a chance for Taliyah to live a life free from the painful crises that have so often overshadowed her childhood.
We invite you to join us in supporting COTA for Taliyah Strong. Your and COTA’s support helps to sustain the spirit of a little girl who, in her fight for life, teaches us all about the power of resilience and the unyielding strength of the human spirit. Let us rally together for COTA in honor of Taliyah, to provide her not only with the medical support she needs but also to affirm that her community stands with her, today and always. Your generosity can forge a path for her brighter future, a future where she can live out her dream of healing others—just as she has, in her own way, healed parts of us with her indomitable spirit.
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.