COTA for Team Bria J

Our Story

Hi my name is Bria. I am a pursuing a degree in Communications and I aspire to have a career in media doing radio or television. 

In 2012, I had to get my gallbladder removed, and it was only because of that surgery that I found out about my liver condition called Non-cirrhotic portal hypertension. To simplify things, it means that I have unknown liver scarring, which causes the liver to create new paths to receive blood. Because of that, it results in pressure of the veins in my esophagus that can cause varices. I was always told that down the road I might need a new liver, but that came sooner than I thought. I had hoped that my liver would function properly without the need of a transplant.

Recently in July, I began to notice that my skin and eyes were turning yellow due to jaundice. I was also beginning to retain fluid in my abdomen and throughout my body due to my liver not functioning properly, and because my liver was not producing enough of a protein called albumin. With those findings, I was told I would need a liver transplant. I want to make the best of this situation and I hope that I can be a testimony and advocate for others in the future. I am believing to be on the other side of this situation with a healthy liver, living a healthy life. 

During my liver transplant evaluation, I was introduced to an organization called Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA). COTA will ensure that all donations will assist patients like me with transplant-related expenses. They have been helping children of families who need transplants through fundraising assistance for 32 years. Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated. Thank you.

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.