Today is the one year anniversary that our heart hero Isabel gave her most selfless gift. In her honor, we would like to post about 4 new families that we have acquired in the past week. This brings our total number of families to 35. One exciting update is that we have given to our first Mayo Clinic family– the family of Declan Quiller. We are grateful to say we have forged a relationship between COTA and Mayo Clinic and hope to help many more Mayo families. We have also re-gifted to one family who remains in need.
Fly high baby girl <333
Elijah McGaughey, 2 years old: Elijah was born with a very complex congential heart defect (double-inlet left ventricle (DILV), hypoplastic aortic arch with coarctation (L-TGA), atrial septal defect (ASD), ventricular septal defect (VSD), and pulmonary stenosis) for which he has needed muliple surgeries. Elijah was admitted in Portland in March of 2024; he was transferred to Seattle Children’s and while not in-patient currently, he must remain close by as it is too dangerous for him to go home over 300 miles away from the hospital. The family has had many transplant-related expenses while Elijah and his mom wait for transplant at the Ronald McDonald House. https://cota.org/cotaforelijahstrong/.
Declan Quiller, 6 years old: Declan is from Redondo Beach, California but Declan and his family are in Rochester while he waits for a heart transplant at Mayo. Declan was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, genetic heart condition, as an infant. His situation has now progressed, needing open heart surgery at Mayo Clinic on July 2nd. Surgery went well but Declan suffered unexpected complications and is now on ECMO (life-support) awaiting a heart transplant far from home. https://cota.org/cotafordeclansheart/.
Karlin Jackson, 6 years old: Karlin lives with his mother in Olive Branch, Mississippi. Karlin received a lifesaving transplant when he was just six months old. Karlin and his mother continue to travel out of state to Tennessee for appointments multiple times per year. This month, COTA assisted Karlin and his mother with a hotel room, which was paid directly with COTA funds in Karlin’s honor, so the family did not need to pay this expense upfront. https://cota.org/cotaforteamkj/.
Keylien Zinn, 7 years old: Keylien is seven years old and lives with his mother and grandmother in Pontotoc, Mississippi. Keylien received a life-saving heart transplant when he was just three months old. He will celebrate his eight-year transplant anniversary in December and is doing very well. The family still has regular transplant-related appointments and travel expenses. https://cota.org/cotaforkeylienz/.
Leonie Derouen, 9 years old– Leonie is a young boy from Iberia Parish, Louisiana that received a heart transplant in 2024. We have previously donated to Leonie, however the family has continued expenses and needs. https://cota.org/cotaforleonie/.