As most of you know, Ashley has battled cystic fibrosis since she was diagnosed at 3 months old. Fortunately, she is a fighter and has always done all she could to maintain her health. Over the past several years, her lung function has been declining-an unavoidable result of cystic fibrosis. The last treatment available at end stage lung disease is a double lung transplant. It will fix the lung problem, although she will still have to fight the effects of CF in the rest of her body-including digestive issues, liver, sinus, and diabetes, as well as dealing with the antirejection drugs the rest of her life.

We were blessed that Ashley received her lung transplant on May 16, just 15 months after the initial evaluation at UNC and only one week after being placed on the transplant list. She has had to relocate to Chapel Hill from NYC for the transplant, and plans to stay here for the first year post tranplant, to be close to the clinic at UNC. After she is released from the hospital, she will have physical therapy and frequent clinic visits for the first year to monitor her new lungs.

Ashley is looking forward to life post transplant, without the hours of breathing treatments everyday, and the oxygen she has been dependent on.

Although Ashley has good insurance, a double lung transplant on average cost over a million dollars (Dec 19, 2017 · According to Milliman, an actuarial company, the average cost for a single lung transplant in 2017 was $861,700. A double lung transplant on average cost over a million dollars, $1,190,700 to be exact.). There will be many out of pocket expenses.

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.