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 Naples, volunteers are raising funds for transplant patients like local baby Adam Saada.
Born on April 3, 2007, Adam was a happy healthy boy who was 9 pounds, 2 ounces. On August 3rd, Adam had his first fever. It was about 12 midnight. My husband and I comforted him through the night and brought him to the doctor the very next morning. The doctor prescribed an antibiotic as he had an ear infection. On the 6th Adam had his 4 month well baby checkup. This is when his pediatrician noticed his breathing was slightly heavy. We were admitted into North Collier Hospital to the pediatric ICU. The doctors were treating him for pneumonia. He required high levels of oxygen, but after 5 days of treatment he was not progressing. They decided to change up the medication. Adam got progressively worse, so their decision was to airflight him to Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Hollywood, FL.
Within the first 24 hours, Adam was diagnosed with a rare type of pneumonia, PCP. This is only found in those with low immune systems, so we had to find out why Adam had it. He was diagnosed with Severe Combined Immune Deficiency. (Basically this means he has no cells in his body to fight off infections. With this disease, he is at greater risk of life threatening infections and without the transplant he will have no ability to survive another infection.) He was not breathing on his own. He was on a ventilator then an oscilator. He oxgygen requirements were very high. The doctors consulted with doctors at JacksonMemorial Hospital in Miami, Florida who recommended a life-saving bone marrow transplant. Adam was transferred to Jackson Memorial/Univ. of Miami Holtz Children's Hospital. This is where Dr. Gary Kleiner will perform his needed transplant. The transplant will be carried out on the 18th of September. It will take 90 days to determine the success of the transplant.
An estimated $250,000 is being raised by Naples volunteers.