Help Give Gillian Irons a Second Chance
Gillian Marie Irons was born on June 3, 2005, six weeks premature. Soon after being born, Gillian was diagnosed with Dysplastic Kidneys, and doctors at St. Louis Barnes Children’s Hospital in Missouri, recommended a life-saving kidney transplant. To look at Gillian, you would think she's just a normal, fun loving, happy little girl.
For in-depth information about Gillian click here
For Archived News click here
Latest News:
- Gillian Gets a Kidney
- Campaign is almost 1/3 to goal
- Volunteer Meeting Scheduled
Hi Everyone!
It's with great happiness that I announce that Gillian has undergone a successful transplant surgery. On 12/8, Gillian got an early Christmas present in the form of a very healthy kidney. It appears as if all our prayers have been answered and this kidney was made for her. The surgery was very routine and all of her numbers are coming along very well. So well in fact that the doctors are going to let her go home on Monday! Can you believe it? Less than a week after transplant and she'll be on her way home. Mom has been keeping her blog updated several times a day with pictures and news. Gillian is now eating solid food, talking, on the phone and walking! Yes, walking after two days! Also a big thanks to Grandma Teresa, Great Grandma Sandy, Great Grandma Lois, and Great Grandpa Bob for coming down and helping us through the first days.
We all want to thank you for all your prayers, thoughts, and well wishes. Without all of you and our extended COTA family this process would be much more difficult.
On top of the good news of the transplant is our latest balance total. We are just shy of 22,000. We could have only made that with all of your help. We are only three thousand away from our first major milestone of $25,000. We know we can make it with your help.
And finally, there will be a volunteers meeting this Sunday (12/14) in Decatur, Il. if you would like to help feel free to contact our campaign coordinator, Heather Hodges at hmhodges@yahoo.com.
Important Links:
All About Gillian and Her Fight for a Second Chance
This site is dedicated to Gillian:
Gillian Marie Irons was born on June 3, 2005, six weeks premature. Soon after being born, Gillian was diagnosed with Dysplastic Kidneys, and doctors at St. Louis Barnes Children’s Hospital in Missouri, recommended a life-saving kidney transplant. To look at Gillian, you would think she's just a normal, fun loving, happy little girl.
At the age of 3 months Gillian had a PD Catheter put in for dialysis. Thankfully it was never needed and taken out a month later because of a staff infection. Gillian has had many hospital stays for dehydration when becoming sick. When she gets sick it puts stress on her kidneys and her potassium levels get dangerously high. They monitor her heart to make sure the potassium isn't damaging it. Gillian has been a trooper through all of this, I think out of all two and a half year olds she knows the most about doctors and medicine. All of us want to see her get the kidney she needs and become the thriving little girl she is.
We need your help and support!!
With the cost of a transplant often exceeding $500,000, many transplant patients are unable to shoulder the financial burden of such a procedure. The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) is a national charity dedicated to organizing and guiding communities in raising funds for transplant-needy patients.
Our Goals:
The goal for this campaign is to raise at least $75,000. This money will go to all the medical trips, supplies, doctor visits, gas back and forth to St Louis and all the other things that come up. We need your help to get us to that goal.
Our Progress:
As you can see we are just starting out. The task may seem daunting, but I know through prayer, family, and friends, we will make this a reality.
Our Thanks:
Gillian's Mom and Dad (Mike and Leslie to everyone else) would like to thank all of our friends and family for their help and support through this issue. They know that through your prayers and help, everything will work out wonderfully in the end.