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2-year-old needs your help

2-year-old needs your help

A a group of caring and committed McHenry County volunteers are working hard to give hope to the Gillespie family. The Children's Organ Transplant Association organizes communities across the country to raise funds that help pay transplant-related expenses and help families avoid financial ruin.

Arianna Gillespie, 2, has received a liver transplant, and her family has turned to COTA for lifesaving assistance. COTA funds help with such expenses as food and lodging while the family is at the transplant center; transportation to and from the transplant center; copays, deductibles and medication expenses, and assistance with household expenses while a parent is out of work during the time of the transplant.

All of these expenses add up quickly (often tens of thousands of dollars) and can stand in the way of a child or young adult receiving a lifesaving transplant.

More than 2,000 transplant families have worked with COTA. Thousands of volunteers have donated their time to help COTA patients, and more than 200,000 generous Miracle Makers have made contributions to help children and young adults receive a second chance at life.

April is National Donate Life Month. More than 120,000 U.S. patients are waiting for an organ transplant. Every day, 18 people die waiting for one.

You can support COTA in Arianna's honor and register as an organ donor at www.COTAforAriannaG.com.

Diana Kamysz

COTA public relations coordinator

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