COTA for Team Daniel

Our Story

Welcome to the COTA page for Team Daniel!

Below is a quick view of Danny’s story and a brief description of COTA.

Danny is in need of a life-saving double-lung transplant. To some that already know, this may sound familiar. That is because this will be his second transplant. His first was in October 2018.

How did we end up here? Despite a challenging surgery and recovery from his first transplant,Danny thrived with his new set of lungs. He returned to work for the first time since being forced onto disability by his Cystic Fibrosis back in 2008. Danny had also returned to school. Wanting to give back to the medical field in any way that he could, Danny excelled in the Radiology Technologist program through STLCC. Unfortunately, he began experiencing symptoms about a year ago as Danny’s lung function began to decline. After ruling everything else out, Danny and the doctors had to talk about the scariest word in the transplant world – REJECTION. Rejection happens when the immune system sees the transplanted organ as foreign and begins to attack it, and it caused everything in Danny’s life to be put back on hold.

Danny was diagnosed with chronic rejection in November and he was forced once again to stop working to keep up with a full-on attack from the medical team. Hoping to stop the decline and stabilize his lung function, he has had included numerous infusions, up to three times a week, and countless hours spent at medical appointments. Unfortunately, the decline has continued. In March, it was decided that the next step would be a re-transplant. However due to the complications from his first transplant, along with the more significant risks and complexities involved in a second transplant, he was turned down at our local transplant center as his lung function continues to fall.

With a declining lung function now at 11%, Danny and his care team have spent the summer searching for answers, and they have found some good news. The Cleveland Clinic has agreed to list Danny for re-transplant, as has Duke Medical Center! It is excellent news and gives Danny and his family a lot of hope. It will be a very challenging surgery and recovery, “7-times more difficult than the first,” as quoted by Dr. Budev from the Cleveland Clinic.

This is where we come in! After reading this, we are asking anyone willing to help to donate to Team Daniel. Daniel is teaming up with COTA, and funds raised will be used to assist with transplant-related expenses through COTA. The costs are already adding up – transportation, lodging, medical co-pays on the many prescriptions, tests, and appointments, to name just a few. Danny will also have to re-locate, along with a caregiver, to Cleveland, Ohio, or Durham, North Carolina.

Please consider donating to Team Daniel! Fundraising will benefit COTA in honor of Daniel to assist with life-saving transplant-related expenses. 100% of the proceeds raised from fundraising will go to COTA to assist families like Daniel’s. All donations are fully tax-deductible. Please be aware that many employers match donated funds by their employees, so please check with your employer to see if they may match your donation (not all businesses may appear on the drop down menu).

THANK YOU for all your donations! Please check back for different fundraising events and updates! Updates regarding Danny’s health and status will be posted to the blog section of Team Daniel’s page. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out via email to katwils15@yahoo.com.

Known as COTA, the Children’s Organ Transplant Association 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 their patients helps meet transplant-related expenses. COTA’s services are free to the families they support, and once again, all gifts to COTA are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.