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.  In Concord, volunteers are raising funds for transplant patients like local child Jessica Ann Bucher.

Born on August 7 1996, Jessica was diagnosed with Sandhoff's Disease, and doctors at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina recommended a life-saving stem-cell transplant.  An estimated $75,000 is being raised by Concord volunteers.

There are approximately 20 new cases of Sandhoff diagnosed per year in the United States.  Sandhoff disease is a genetic autosomal recessive disorder caused by a deficiency of two important enzymes. The result is an accumulation of certain fats and sugars in the neurons of the brain.  This accumulation causes brain neurons to die off and eventual deterioration of the central nervous system.  This is a life threatening disease.

The family’s only hope to save Jessie’s life is an experimental clinical trial Stem Cell Transplant. This is only done at the Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina.  The parents, Adam and Cindy Bucher, had to pick up and head to North Carolina with little to no preparation.  The initial transplant will take a year to complete with three more years of follow-up care after they return home.

As you can imagine, your help is desperately needed. Please donate here on Jessica's website.  Thank you.