A Dumas, Texas family on Thursday described for KAMR/Fox 14 what it’s like to wait for a life changing phone call on behalf of 9-month-old Damian Maldonado.
Damian has a rare liver disease called Biliary Atresia and is in need of a transplant.
Damian’s mother Cindia Maldonado said the condition causes his bile-ducts to not release fluids that are necessary to regulate his blood.
Maldonado said Damian had a Kasai procedure done as a treatment.
“They thought at the beginning it was because of the surgery he was going to need the transplant, but the surgery was successful,” Maldonado said. “It is just his liver that is not functioning right and it never has been since he was born.”
That’s when they heard about Children’s Organ Transplant Association or COTA.
“We were introduced to them back in October when we were told that he was going to be needing a transplant, and they help families just like us with transplant related expenses.”
Maldonado said 100 percent of all funds raised are used for patients’ transplant-related experiences.
About her son having a transplant, she said it’s sad to think of other parents losing a child and donating the organs.
“It’s kind of hard to think about it, but at the same time we are very thankful at the same time that they decide to go through that route of donating to keep their legacy going through someone else.”
A COTA spokesperson said the organization’s priority is to assure that no child is denied a transplant, or is staying on the waiting list, because of a lack of funds.
Damian was put on the waiting list to get a transplant on December 16.
On the web: cotafordamianm.com
