COTA for Team Alyssa

Our Story

On February 27, 2021, Alyssa was a healthy college freshman at West Virginia University.  On February 28, 2021, she started feeling ill and went to urgent care where they did some tests. Upon the initial results they advised that she go to the ER. On March 1st she was admitted into Ruby Memorial hospital in Morgantown, WV, for jaundice, abdominal pain and nausea. Her condition steadily declined and they had a hard time getting a conclusive diagnosis. They were alarmed that her liver levels were declining quickly. She was diagnosed with Wilson’s Disease, which is a very rare genetic disease, and in Liver Failure. She was air lifted to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UMPC) on Wednesday, March 3rd. Her diagnosis of Wilson’s moved her to the top of the donor transplant list. We were notified that she had a match on Friday, March 5th. She was prepped for surgery awaiting confirmation that the donor liver was the perfect match for her. She had liver transplant surgery on Saturday evening, March 6th. It was the longest 10 hours of our lives. We were informed that we will need to stay close to UMPC after her initial discharge for her follow up appointment. We are over 3 hours away from our home, our two sons, and our friends and family that are our support system. She has been a rock star through the surgery and recover thus far. We have partnered with the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) for assistance with a lifetime of transplant-related expenses. We know she has a long road of recovery ahead of her and we are so thankful to everyone who has sent thoughts and prayers and love to her and our entire family.

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.