Rory was born on Christmas Day 2019 as a healthy and happy baby.  At four months old, Rory was taken by life flight to the Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City in heart failure.  After testing, Rory was diagnosed with a rare condition called idiopathic cardiomyopathy.

Rory is being treated at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit and was put on the list for a heart transplant on May 23, 2020.  On June 1, 2020, Rory underwent open-heart surgery to implant a VAD (ventricular assist device) to help his heart pump until a new heart became available.  

On June 16th Rory received his heart transplant.  We are overjoyed that he has the opportunity to be a healthy and happy baby!  As relieved and happy as we are, we mourn with the donor family who lost their child.  We thank them for their selfless gift in their time of grief.  

Rory still has a long road ahead of him to keep his new heart healthy and happy as well as his recovery from his two open-heart surgeries.  He will require a lifetime of intensive care.  Currently, we are working hard in physical therapy to catch up to his peers.

Rory loves music and playing.  He has learned how to clap and is becoming an expert at making animal sounds.  Right now his favorite thing to do is to watch the birds, squirrels, and ducks in the backyard.

Donations to COTA for Team Rory will assist with transplant-related expenses, such as the cost of his medical treatment and travel between Boise and Salt Lake City for his family.

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.