Without even realizing it, Walker has become a real-life hero as he navigates a life changing diagnosis and all that comes with it. 

In July 2022, we took Walker to his pediatrician due to some general complaints of stomach aches and fatigue. His pediatrician urgently directed us to the emergency room at Peyton Manning’s Children’s Hospital where the care team discovered Walker to be in end stage renal failure and in critical condition. He spent a week in the ICU where they stabilized him, and began dialysis treatments. Three weeks later, he was transferred to Riley’s Hospital for Children where his long-term treatment was successfully managed, and after an initial 24-day stay at the hospital, Walker was finally discharged. He began nightly peritoneal dialysis at home while he awaited a kidney transplant from a living donor. Over the next 13 months, Walker met many obstacles and challenges with grace, determination, and a warrior spirit. He navigated blood draws, doctor appointments, surgeries, school, friends, sports, medication injections, family life, and so much more … all while maintaining a ‘can do’ attitude. I don’t think he realized just how much he was teaching all of us. 

Then, in August 2023, he received a new-to-him, healthy kidney from the incredible generosity and altruistic compassion of a living donor. He has been blessed with a very efficient kidney that is clearing so many toxins out of his system. He has been tasked with many more medications, fluid intake goals, and more appointments! Despite these new changes, his sense of humor, playfulness, and silliness are in full force and he is eager to be on a new healing path. The upcoming year will be full of many ups and downs, but we look forward to more good days and increasing health and happiness for Walker. The transplant treatment plan is a beautiful miracle, but not without its challenges. We don’t know what lies ahead, but we can bet that Walker will once again lead the way with his courage and bravery.  

Moving forward, there will continue to be many expenses to cover Walker’s long-term care. The course of treatment for end stage renal disease is, unfortunately, very expensive, and life-long. 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 supporting transplant-needy families, and 100% of each contribution made helps meet transplant-related expenses. These services are free to families, and gifts to COTA are tax deductible. Each dollar is received with deep gratitude by the family, and used solely to assist with transplant-related expenses now and in the future. 

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.