Parents of Child Transplant Patients Turn to COTA for Advice

Friday 29th of December 2006 10:01:26 AM

Parents of Child Transplant Patients Turn to COTA for Advice

The cost of Organ Transplants is steadily increasing and many people are turning to fundraising as well as insurance. One parent said, "We have good insurance, but it was obvious we would need some help, too." The Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA) can help parents with advice about organ transplants. "We teach families how to fund raise for transplant patients," said Arlene Davis who is a patient campaign specialist for the organization. "An average transplant is around $500,000, but it can be far more expensive than that." There are around 1,500 heart transplants a year performed on patients of all ages in the United States. Over $100,000 in donations was raised for a young boy who needed a transplant but he died before receiving one.

COTA was founded in 1986. The nonprofit making organization helps 100 families nationwide each year and most of the recipients are 21 or younger. The organization says, "We also help with publicity, to get the word out about us and about the patient. It's all free of charge — a 'you help us, we'll help you' arrangement." A number of local businesses and local organizations also help with donations such as a local basketball team is selling "Red Army" T-Shirts for at least a $10 donation and friends of a boy who received a 30-day lunch suspension designed some T-Shirts that said, "Free (the kid's last name)."

Arlene Davis said that every dollar received as donations goes directly to any transplant related expenses for the patient. The charity's actual operating expenses are funded through grants and other fundraisers. There are a number of ways to help transplant patients through fundraising such as designing t-shirts, wristbands and bracelets.