Ezekiel’s journey began during pregnancy when we found out that his intestines were compromised. Zeke was taken via emergency c-section six weeks early. He was then flown to Phoenix Children’s Hospital where he underwent surgery less than 24 hours into his life, and roughly 90% of his intestines were removed. After surgery we were informed that he would be dependent on TPN (total parenteral nutrition) through a port in a vein near his heart and a g-tube in his stomach. We were advised that the TPN could have adverse effects on his liver and that he will need a liver transplant in the future.  At ten months old, we were informed that Ezekiel’s condition had progressed much faster than imagined and it was believed that he would be in need of a transplant sooner than expected.  After a rigorous transplant evaluation at Lucile Packard Stanford Children’s Hospital, Ezekiel was found to be a candidate for multi visceral transplant needing a liver, intestine and pancreas. Fast forward almost 3 years of hospital visits and loving nurturing, a busy boy heads for Stanford, CA, for a multi visceral transplant, along with removal of spleen & gaul bladder on July 27, 2023. He did amazingly well and out of ICU on August 2, 2023, released on September 6 and headed for Ronald McDonald House where they will be for several months before being able to return to Arizona.  This is a lifetime commitment where he will need to use multiple immunosuppressant drugs for the rest of his life, and feeding therapy with the hope he will be able to sustain himself without any tubes or wires attached some day soon.  This is in fact a life changing opportunity for him to grow to be a strong young man one day.  He has the opportunity for a full life, participating in the amazing world around him. #COTAforZekeStrong

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.