COTA for Team Kennedy

Our Story

My precious, upbeat, and sassy niece Kennedy is just 2 years old and in a fight for her life. Do not worry though she is a warrior, tough as nails, and ready to win this battle.  Kennedy is the daughter of Eric and Aly Dorfman, little sister to Cody, and soon to be big sister to her baby brother arriving in a few weeks.

We have partnered with the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) for assistance with a lifetime of transplant-related expenses. Although Kennedy will be receiving the gift of life, after transplant she will live with post-transplant treatment such as routine bloodwork and scans, and will also need to take immunosuppressive medications for the rest of her life to prevent rejection of this incredible gift.

This past October Kennedy went to her pediatrician for a healthy 2-year check-up. Her blood work showed a very abnormal platelet count and when compared to her 1-year numbers, her parents knew something was not right. Eric and Aly got the call that no parents should ever have to get, a referral to Pediatric Oncology. Over the next several weeks Kennedy had CT scans, Ultrasounds, and more blood tests than one could imagine. They found no Leukemia but did find very abnormal liver function and an enlarged spleen.

Next, they were referred to Pediatric GI for further screening but before that appointment could even happen, they had to take Kennedy to the ER when she started throwing up bile. The ER confirmed that her liver function was getting worse, but that she was stable enough to go home and follow-up with the GI doctor the following day. Kennedy’s Grandfather and Great Uncle both passed away from a rare genetic disorder that affects the liver and lungs called Alpha-1. Fearing the worst, Eric and Aly asked them to test Kennedy for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency.

On December 29^th they got the call they had been dreading. They were told Kennedy had Alpha-1, that her liver was failing and that she would soon require a lifesaving transplant. Their world was flipped upside down, their angel’s life forever changed. They were immediately referred to consult with a transplant team at New York Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital. Eric and Aly have said, “Hands down these are some of the best people they have ever met. We could not have possibly found a better team of individuals to save our baby’s life”.

On 1/27/21 Kennedy had her official transplant evaluation. It was a long day, lots of meetings, 15 tubes of blood and an EKG, but she handled it great. The liver is an amazing organ. A living donor can donate a portion of their liver and within 2-4 weeks liver function returns to normal. Unfortunately, Dad is not the right blood type and although Mom is the right type, she is 34 weeks pregnant and ineligible to donate. However, so many have stepped up and volunteered to be Kennedy’s Angel, we are forever grateful to you all. Kennedy’s amazing aunt Kelly is in the process of being screened and will have extensive testing to include a biopsy to make sure they are a perfect match.  If all goes well, we are hopeful that Kennedy will have a new liver by the end of February, just in time to come home and meet her new baby Brother.

We are so grateful for all the amazing support from our family and friends. Everyone’s love and support has kept the Dorfman family strong through all of this.

#TeamKennedy

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.