COTA for Team Alyssa ML

Our Story

Alyssa is a loving daughter, sister, auntie and friend. At just 10 months old, Alyssa was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis a progressive, genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and limits the ability to breathe over time. In people with CF, a defective gene causes a thick, sticky buildup of mucus in the lungs, pancreas, and other organs. In the lungs, the mucus clogs the airways and traps bacteria leading to infections, extensive lung damage, and eventually, respiratory failure. (https://www.cff.org/What-is-CF/About-Cystic-Fibrosis/) While the life expectancy for a Cystic Fibrosis patient is around 40 years old, Alyssa is determined to keep fighting for her life by the means of a double lung transplant.

Alyssa has been battling serious lung infections in and out of the hospital since the age of five. Her hospital stays have impacted her life immensely. At 16 years old, Alyssa fell extremely ill and faced the possibility of a lung transplant. After battling the infection she recovered and dedicated herself to her education and living her life without limitations. Alyssa was able to graduate college with a Bachelors degree in communication. She was an active member of the Alpha Phi fraternity and was a member of the Delta speech and debate team. She also was the media relations intern for the Stockton Ports 2013 season. With an active life, Alyssa struggled daily with treatments, medications, limited lung function, illnesses but was still able to achieve every goal she set for herself.

In 2016, Alyssa became a manager at Give Every Child A Chance and grew passionate about her career. She loved working with children and helping make a positive difference in those children’s life. Unfortunately her Cystic Fibrosis rapidly progressed over the past two years limiting her ability to work. She had to resign from her dream job as her lung function no longer allowed her to maintain an active lifestyle.

In the spring of 2018, Alyssa and her doctors decided that it was time to get serious about lung transplantation. While originally reluctant, Alyssa imagined a future where she would be able to chase after nieces, run Disney marathons and work a full-time job helping to make a positive impact in the world, and just like that, she was ecstatic about the idea of a transplant.

Her nieces are one of her greatest motivations for a lung transplant. She wants to watch them grow up and help them become the strong, sassy, fun hearted woman that she has grown into. She wants to play with them in the park and take them on trips to Disneyland, all which she will not be able to do without funding for a lung transplant.

Please donate to COTA in honor of Alyssa so that she can continue to live the beautiful life that she has fought so hard to have.

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.