Letter: Westfield Community Can Save a Life

Dear Editor:

Giving Hope ... Making Miracles. The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) has been doing this since 1986. Right here in Westfield, a group of caring and committed people are working hard to give hope, and possibly make a miracle, for the Haley family.

But what is COTA? COTA has helped organize communities across the country to raise funds that help pay transplant-related expenses and help families avoid financial crisis. Here in Westfield, Elle Haley, 14, received a liver transplant, and Elle’s family has turned to COTA for help.

COTA helps with transplant-related expenses such as food and lodging while the family is at the transplant center; transportation to and from the transplant center; co-pays, 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 receiving a life-saving transplant. But you can help.

More than 2,000 families from every corner of this country have worked with COTA. Thousands of concerned people have donated their time to help COTA patients, and more than 200,000 generous people have made contributions to help transplant-needy children receive a second chance at life.

April is National Donate Life Month. More than 100,000 U.S. patients are waiting for a solid organ transplant, with another 30,000 searching for a cord blood, marrow or stem cell match. Every day, 19 people die waiting for an organ transplant.

Elle Haley needs you to support COTA and to register today as an organ donor. Go to www.COTAforelleh.com to learn how you can help give hope ... and make a miracle.

Sincerely,

Amy Anderson and Barbara Callahan