Valeria is 16 years old and was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome at about 16 gestational weeks.  She has had 3 open-heart surgeries with many hospitalizations since birth.  She is such a happy teenager and an amazing warrior with lots of desire to live.  Valeria has not experienced much of what a teenager her age does, she’s always tired and her heart condition impairs her many activities.  Valeria is pretty ill at the moment and has a very small window to receive a heart before she gets too ill to be a candidate for one.  Valeria brings so much happiness and joy to everyone around and we would love her to experience what teenagers her age experience.

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.