A Colorado Family’s Holiday Will be Extra Special This Year As They Celebrate the Ultimate Gift … the Gift of Life
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Kim Carter Parker (217.494.6110)
A Colorado Family’s Holiday Will be Extra Special This Year As They Celebrate the Ultimate Gift … the Gift of Life
Bloomington, Indiana – December 5, 2011 -- December 1999 was a time of great joy and great stress for the Copeland family of Colorado. Deb Copeland delivered twin boys on December 2nd, one of whom had been diagnosed in utero with a congenital heart defect. Baby Ben was healthy, but Baby Drew was not. Drew was diagnosed with Double Outlet Right Ventricle Mitral Atresia, which meant the pumping chamber of his tiny heart was malformed. Drew would need a heart transplant to survive.
Throughout his early years, Drew survived three open heart surgeries and numerous heart catherizations. However, in July 2009 Deb and John Copeland were told that Drew’s heart was failing. During these days of fear and stress, the Copeland family reached out to the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) for guidance and support.
According to John and Deb, “COTA provided hope through all of the support we received while waiting for a new heart for Drew. The support came in the form of kind words, financial assistance, cards and prayers. COTA meant we were not alone during the most intense and painful time in our life. The immense love we felt was like a life boat that cushioned the stress and pain we were experiencing.”
The transplant team at The Children’s Hospital in Aurora, Colorado, placed Drew on the organ waiting list. After months of prayers, the Copeland family received the call on December 21, 2009. By early the next morning, Drew was in surgery receiving his new heart … and his second chance at life.
“I wept when our transplant coordinator told me the new heart was beating in his little body. Gratitude surged through my soul. Praise and thanksgiving were on my lips during this holiday time, and our prayers spilled over to our donor family,” Deb remembers.
This December will be Drew’s two-year transplant anniversary.
“Receiving a heart at the holidays was an amazing miracle. Before the transplant, Drew couldn’t run down the stairs and now he runs around the baseball diamond. He loves to feel winded because he trusts his new heart that is now allowing him to be a little boy … what a miracle,” said Deb and John.
The holidays will be lively this year for the Copeland family, and undoubtedly Deb and John will welcome the chaos.
The Children’s Organ Transplant Association is a national charity that provides fundraising assistance to transplant families. Since 1986, COTA’s priority is to assure that no child or young adult is denied a transplant or excluded from a transplant waiting list due to lack of funds. 100% of all funds raised in honor of transplant patients are used for transplant-related expenses.
For more information about the Children’s Organ Transplant Association, or to find a COTA family in your area, please email kim@cota.org.
