COTA for Team Talon

Our Story

May 31, 2022: This long-awaited day finally arrived! Talon received his thymus transplant! Talon’s journey continues, but this day marks a huge milestone. It will take time to see the effects of the transplant and Talon’s medical care is critically important throughout the next few months and years.

May 19, 2022: The call has arrived that there is a thymus for Talon! Talon and his parents will begin this long-awaited part of the transplant journey on Monday, May 23.

OUR STORY: At Jessica and Dave’s 20-week anatomy scan, they learned something no parent wants to hear.  They would need to go see a fetal and maternal specialist because there were some major health concerns with their little guy.

After countless appointments and trips to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, the young couple found out Talon would have to have open heart surgery right after birth.  Just imagine having your baby taken from you right after you get to meet him for the first time. 

During Talon’s open-heart surgery, the couple received more devastating news.  Talon was missing his thymus gland which is a necessary organ that kickstarts your immune system’s t-cells.  The only option was to wait for a thymus transplant which are only done at one facility in the United States at Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina.  Until then, Talon would have to live in isolation as something as simple as a common cold could take his life. 

Talon and his parents have made the best out of a very hard situation.  Never complaining and taking life one precious day at a time.  Two and a half years later, Talon continues to thrive despite being dealt such a tough hand.  He has been poked, injected, and has to spend more time with doctors than most people have to their entire lives. 

Recently Jessica and Dave received a call they’ve been waiting for Talon’s entire life.  That it’s almost Talon’s turn to get his thymus transplant.  A chance at having a normal life where Talon just gets to be a kid and enjoy things we often take for granted like meeting family members, going to the park and simply playing with other kids. 

The Kirk family will have to move to Durham for the transplant and Talon will continue to have countless medical bills.  They’ve partnered with COTA for assistance with transplant-related expenses because they feel it’s the best option to help give Talon what he needs to live a very long and happy life.

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.