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 San Francisco, volunteers are raising funds for transplant patients like local baby Christopher Padua. Born on June 1, 2006, Christopher was diagnosed with Biliary Atresia at 3 months of age, and doctors at UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco, California recommended a life-saving liver transplant. An estimated $40,000 is being raised by San Francisco volunteers. Volunteers are needed to assist with fundraising activities. Individuals and groups interested in more information can contact Campaign Coordinator Cecilia Wong at 415-902-1686 or cotaforchristopherp@gmail.com.

Donations may be made In person at any Wells Fargo Bank branch location using account number 9421478612 or mailed to the Children's Organ Transplant Association; 2501 COTA Drive; Bloomington, Indiana 47403.  Checks or money orders should be made payable to COTA, with "In Honor of Christopher Padua" written on the memo line of the check.  Secure credit card donations are also accepted online under the "Donate" tab above.
Also check out http://cotaforchristopherp.wordpress.com.

Night and Day Christopher was born on June 1st, 2006. He is the other half of his twin brother, Evan. Chris and Evan have an older brother, 5-year-old, Nate. Jenille and Jason run the Padua household. From the day they were born and even in utero, we knew that Chris and Evan were unlike anything and anyone else including each other. Chris was the one who barely moved. He stay head-down the whole time making sure that he was coming out first. Evan, on the other hand, was upside-down and right-side up every other week. Evan couldn't care less who was first out. Unsurprisingly, Chris was born first and Evan arrived 8 minutes thereafter. Chris came out screaming making it known that he was here; Evan gave a quick "Wah!" and that was it. Because the twins were a month early, they were placed in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at UC San Francisco for a week and here their personalities came alive.