April 1, 2026 – Forty years ago this month (April 1986), the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) was founded in Central Indiana by a transplant family. COTA’s first mom gave birth to a little boy who needed a liver transplant. However, our nation’s organ procurement and distribution system was dramatically different forty years ago. This toddler was denied access to the liver transplant waiting list due to a lack of funds. A large group of dedicated Indiana volunteers quickly got to work raising nearly $100,000 in honor of this family. But sadly, he died before a liver could be found.
That first group of COTA volunteers went door-to-door and walked throughout the county fair to raise funds for transplant-related expenses. The legacy of that original fundraising effort was the birth of COTA. Those volunteers, COTA Miracle Makers, embodied the spirit of volunteerism that fuels thousands of COTA volunteer teams nationwide who are now actively raising funds in honor of transplant families throughout the country. It is significant that COTA’s roots were planted in April — when National Volunteer Week is celebrated each year — during the third week of the month.
A COTA family in Salina, Kansas, speaks to the decades-long impact of COTA volunteers.
“Once we were introduced to COTA by our transplant social worker, the idea of fundraising was a little overwhelming, and we really did not know what we could expect as far as how much could be raised in our family’s honor. But as the donations for transplant-related expenses exceeded our expectations again and again, we were encouraged and immediately felt a sense of relief.”
Erin and Christopher Hernandez remember hearing on their baby’s first day of life he had a congenital heart defect. They were in shock. Neither of their older children were born with any heart problems. But Peter was facing an uphill battle. Before turning three months old he was listed for a heart transplant at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. A few weeks later Erin and Christopher placed their first call to COTA.
“I remember when we had just heard Peter’s diagnosis and were sharing the news, our friend Patti Fiorillo said, ‘You need to call COTA right now. Make the call.’ Erin thanked Patti for the suggestion but told her all of their energy needed to be focused on Peter. Erin was stressed and worried … and at that time, COTA seemed complicated. A few days later Patti pushed her again to call COTA. (Patti’s son, Charlie, was a COTA liver transplant kid who is now a married adult and doing great, Erin explained.) This time, Erin made the call. “I was so stressed and so worried. I had no idea how we were going to pay for all of this. I called COTA’s 800 number and will never forget the person I spoke to who was a breath of fresh air. She seemed to understand everything we were going through and made COTA easy for me to understand. It seemed seamless like a well-oiled machine.”
Erin continued, “After talking with that COTA staff member, I knew we had to join COTA. And we did. They trained our amazing volunteer team and offered seemingly endless support to help our volunteers get started and get going. Finding COTA was a huge gift, a ray of sunshine in a great deal of darkness.”
“We quickly learned COTA had a heart … a heart for supporting and taking care of transplant families like ours,” she added.
After the COTA for Peter H team of volunteers was trained and introduced to COTA’s resources, they quickly got to work raising community awareness and raising funds for COTA to assist with transplant-related expenses. In a short amount of time, they exceeded the $75,000 goal.
“Our amazing COTA volunteer team worked hard to put together great fundraisers in honor of Peter,” Erin said. “The first was a ‘Peter’s Army’ t-shirt sale. Today, several years later, I still see people in the community wearing these shirts. The second fundraiser was an Italian dinner. We were amazed by how well it was organized and overwhelmed by the number of people, some complete strangers, who came. Our local newspaper ran a story about Peter’s transplant journey the day of the event and people who did not even know us attended simply as a way to help.”
She continued, “After that COTA fundraiser we felt so much support. It was a huge relief. And still at that time in Peter’s journey, we were unaware of what his heart transplant would cost. At the outset we never could have imagined the COTA fundraising effort in Peter’s honor would be one of our biggest blessings. It was a source of comfort that we would cling to during many challenges throughout his transplant journey.”
One week after this successful COTA fundraiser, the Hernandez family received the call that Peter’s perfect heart had been found. He received his new heart, and his second chance at life, on February 26, 2019.
Erin explained, “Having a baby in the PICU for an unpredictable length of time was the perfect storm of stress. While the only things we wanted to focus on were making sure Peter received the care he needed and that our other children were well taken care of back at home, it was impossible to ignore the financial ramifications of our situation — mounting expenses along with reduced income. With Christopher and our other two children primarily at home for work and school, I made weekly trips to and from the hospital (more than five hours roundtrip). COTA helped with many transplanted-related expenses like gas, meals and lodging, but also our mortgage and household bills, during the time of transplant.”
“It was such a relief to have one less thing to worry about during the most stressful time of our life,” she added.
Since Peter’s heart transplant, Erin and Christopher say COTA is an invaluable partner on their family’s transplant journey. They continue to use COTA funds for special vitamins, gas, tolls, hotel stays, and meals for the many trips they continue to make to Kansas City for follow-up appointments. Erin chuckled when she added, “And always for Peter’s favorite pink sprinkle donut at the hospital’s coffee shop.”
Peter is now seven years post-transplant. He has started first grade and has risen to the challenge by learning to read and memorize math facts, phonograms, poems and scripture verses. He has also completed the school’s marathon. One of the challenges Erin and Christopher balance post-transplant is the desire to live a normal life while protecting Peter from infection due to his suppressed immune system — a result of the medications necessary to keep his heart healthy. “We have a wonderful medical team that is proactive and always available to us. Right now, Peter is healthy and thriving but we have no idea what the future will bring. We are thankful for the beautiful time we are living right now, which gives us hope for the future.”
Christopher describes COTA as ‘the perfect conduit’ for transplant expense fundraising. He said now, post-transplant, there is always the possibility Peter will one day need a second heart. For Christopher and Erin, it is comforting to know that if they have to face another heart transplant journey with Peter, COTA will be with them every step of the way. And if they need to jumpstart fundraising for transplant-related expenses, they are confident COTA will be there to provide fundraising training and guidance once again for their volunteers.
They added, “We suspect it is likely easier to garner attention for a baby who needs a new heart, which was our case when he joined COTA. Knowing that when Peter is 11 or 18 or 25 or beyond and possibly needs another heart, he will continue to have access to the fruits of a big labor of love.”
COTA’s unwavering commitment … a Lifetime of Support … is very important to Erin and Christopher. They remember the gut punch they felt when they learned their little boy needed a new heart. Not only did they have to navigate the uncertainty of the diagnosis, they also had to navigate the financial uncertainties associated with a medically intensive journey. Becoming part of COTA eased many of their fears, and today, it continues to be a comfort … and will be for a lifetime.
“Transplant-related expenses will never stop for Peter … ever,” they said. “We are blessed to know that COTA does not stop either.”
Throughout 2026, the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) is celebrating 40 years of its commitment to being “The Trusted Leader Supporting Families … For a Lifetime.” COTA is also celebrating four Decades of Donors — those who make the selfless decision to become organ and tissue donors and financial contributors who have helped raised more than $160 million for transplant-related expenses. COTA was founded by one Indiana family in 1986. Today, thousands of transplant families, like the Hernandez family, rely on COTA’s guidance and support, which is provided at no cost.
