Teenager receives kidney donation and ‘pot of gold’

[ad_1]

One player wasn’t the star of Saturday night’s Colorado Eagles game. It was 14-year-old Cooper Logan, aka “DJ Lil Cope.”

Cooper Logan was diagnosed with Kawasaki disease when he was 3 years old. He has a condition that causes inflammation of the blood vessels in the heart.

“I had 10 days. I was caught on the 12th day,” Cooper said.

The Timnath teenager has since battled a giant coronary aneurysm and kidney failure as a result of a lifelong illness.

Cooper’s mother, Meredith Logan, said: “He’s still a kid going through this, so we see him progress and then he regresses.” Told. “It’s so hard to see your child go through something like this.”

Cooper has been waiting for a donation since his kidneys completely failed last year.

Finally, his family heard the news they had been waiting for.

“We heard, ‘Oh my God, we have a donor!’ And then when we heard the news that it was someone we knew, Sean and I just looked at each other and just started crying.” Meredith said.

Cooper’s kidney donor wasn’t just a human, but a family friend, Maggie Lovell.

“I have a 14-year-old niece, and I hope that if she needs a kidney, someone will take her place,” Lovell said.

Cooper’s kidney transplant is scheduled to take place on April 5th. His family said their gratitude for Lovell’s gift was immeasurable.

“I mean, it’s nothing I ever imagined,” Cooper said.

That’s not the only thing they’ve had luck with this year.

After two years as the pregame DJ for the Colorado Eagles minor league hockey team, Cooper was selected as this year’s Pot of Gold recipient.

“I was like, ‘Wow, is it really me?'” Cooper asked.

“I’ve gotten to know his family well over the last few years,” Colorado Eagles President Ryan Buck said. “Seeing what he has been through since he was three years old, the onset of Kawasaki disease and being in and out of the hospital, really touched me as someone who deserves our support and the support of the entire community.”

Each year, the Pot of Gold Game raises money for families struggling financially due to a child’s illness.

Cooper’s father, Sean Logan, said: “Cooper is taking one of the most expensive drugs in the world. It costs $100,000 per dose and he is taking it every eight weeks.” Ta. “We recently found out he’s going to have to do it for the rest of his life.”

Proceeds from Saturday’s game and community donations totaled $130,816. The Logan family was presented with a check during the game.

“My heart was full,” Meredith said. “When the community comes to support you, you feel included and cared for.”

“I’m just grateful,” Sean said.

Cooper will live with Kawasaki disease for the rest of his life, but the new kidney will improve his health and allow him to start a new chapter.

At the game, Cooper dropped the puck, received a lucky jersey, and, of course, served as the DJ for the pregame show.

“He’s an amazing kid, and I’m so excited for him to get healthier, continue pursuing his dreams, and live a long and happy life,” Lovell said.

“Anything that keeps me alive and keeps me going, I’m excited to get it,” Cooper said.

After Cooper’s diagnosis, his parents established the Kawasaki Kids Foundation.

“It all started with Cooper. Thanks to early diagnosis, 171 children have now been saved,” Sean said.

They want to raise awareness about the early signs of Kawasaki disease, the leading cause of heart disease in children under five.

Symptoms most likely develop between birth and age 5 and may include:

A fever of 102 F+ (39 C+) that lasts for more than 5 days.Extremely red eyes without thick discharge (conjunctivitis) Rash on major parts of the body and genital area Red, dry and chapped lips and extremely red and swollen tongue (often called strawberry tongue) Red and swollen palms Skin on the hands and soles of the feet Swollen lymph nodes Irritability Loss of appetite

The Logans say it’s important to diagnose Kawasaki disease within the first 10 days to prevent long-term damage. For more information, please visit his website at the Foundation.

[ad_2]

Source link