COTA for Team Bronson

Our Story

Bronson was born with Barth Syndrome, which is a rare genetic disorder. Barth Syndrome brings many unique challenges, two major challenges being Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Left Ventricular Non-Compaction Cardiomyopathy, which Bronson was diagnosed with at 2 months old.

Dilated cardiomyopathy and left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy are both heart muscle diseases that can cause the left ventricle to enlarge and weaken, leading to impaired pumping function.

Bronson is now 15 years old. Over the last couple of years, Bronson’s quality of life noticeably declined due to heart failure.

Anyone who knows Bronson understands his love for life. Bronson is empathetic, loving, feisty and hilarious! He loves adventure and traveling, cooking and eating unique and delicious foods, gardening and spending time with his family. Bronson is an animal lover and has a special place in his heart for all living things, especially his dog Sammy.

In January 2025, Bronson was placed on the heart transplant list. This resulted in a temporary relocation from Idaho to Salt Lake City, Utah.

We are hopeful Bronson will receive the life saving offer/gift of a heart soon as the daily management of his heart failure is taxing physically, mentally, emotionally and monetarily. If all goes well, Bronson hopes to be back home and reunited with Sammy by the end of the year.

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.