In September, 3 year old Addison Brynteson
started to show bruises all over. At first, her parents Joe and April thought that she had some sort of iron deficiency. Unfortunately, it was much more serious than that, Addy was soon diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia.

Aplastic Anemia is a blood disorder that affects a person's immune system. In order for Addy to survive to her 4th birthday she will need to have a bone marrow transplant. Fortunately, her little brother Cayden is a perfect match.

Addy currently has to have up to five transfusions a week while she waits for the results for some final tests. Once the tests clear, her and Cayden will go through the transplant surgery process together. After the surgery Addy will have to endure a long recovery process in the hospital.

With the cost of a transplant often exceeding $500,000, many transplant families 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-related expenses.  In Blaine, volunteers are raising funds for COTA in honor of transplant patients like Addison Brynteson.