BLOOMINGTON — May 1, 2026, marks a major milestone for the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) as it celebrates 40 years of service. Founded in Bloomington in 1986, the national nonprofit was born when neighbors and friends rallied to raise money for an Indiana toddler in need of a life-saving liver transplant. Four decades later, COTA has raised more than $160 million, supporting thousands of families through the staggering costs of transplant care.
One of those families is the Seiders of Indianapolis. Their daughter, Lauren Seiders, was diagnosed with biliary atresia—a rare liver disease—at just two months old. Her journey, which began in 2006, serves as a testament to COTA’s promise of “support for a lifetime.”
Lauren’s medical journey was grueling. By age three, she had undergone two liver transplants, a multivisceral transplant (stomach, pancreas, liver, and small intestine), and two kidney transplants.
While insurance covered a portion of the procedures, the out-of-pocket costs were astronomical. Suzanne Seiders, Lauren’s mother, recalls the shock of standing at a pharmacy counter early in the journey and discovering that just one month of post-transplant medications cost between $6,000 and $8,000.
“It is hard to describe all the emotions we felt,” Suzanne said of the community support they received. “But it gave us hope. It signaled to us that things were ultimately going to be OK.”
A “Safety Net” for Life
Today, Lauren is a 19-year-old college student at Bowling Green State University. Following her dream, she is studying psychology with an emphasis on child life, aiming to become a specialist at Riley Hospital for Children—the same facility that saved her life.
COTA’s involvement didn’t end when Lauren left the operating room. Unlike many charities, COTA provides guidance and allows funds to be used for transplant-related expenses for the patient’s entire life.
How COTA Helps Families:
- Fundraising Guidance: Training volunteers to organize community events, like the neighborhood garage sale that raised $10,000 for Lauren.
- Lifetime Access: Funds remain available to patients into adulthood to cover medications, insurance premiums, and travel.
- Peace of Mind: Provides a financial cushion as patients transition from their parents’ insurance to their own at age 26.
Four Decades of Donors
As COTA enters its 40th year, it honors both the financial contributors and the selfless organ donors who make these success stories possible. Suzanne Seiders now serves on the COTA Board of Directors, helping other families navigate the same “rough waters” her family faced.
“COTA’s lifetime support commitment gives us peace of mind,” Suzanne said. “None of us knows what the future will bring, but we do know that whatever Lauren has to face, she has a safety net.”
Families facing a transplant journey or individuals looking to contribute to the mission can find more information at COTA.org.
