Pitt Athletic Trainer to Donate Kidney to Colleague’s Son
PITTSBURGH – The George family has found a match, and it is much closer to home than they could have imagined.
Daniel George, four-year-old son of University of Pittsburgh Strength and Conditioning Coach Mary Beth George, requires a life-saving kidney transplant for a condition he has endured since birth, called Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).
After six months of searching, a match has been identified for Daniel.
Molly Trott, athletic trainer and Mary Beth's colleague at Pitt, will donate her kidney on Dec. 7, 2021, just a few weeks before Daniel's fifth birthday. Molly Trott with Daniel George (Nov. 5, 2021, Fitzgerald Field House)
"Throughout my entire life, I've felt compelled to help others," Trott said. "That is why I've chosen the profession of athletic training. I am blessed with the ability to help people every day. When learning more about the George family, and all that Danny has gone through in his life, I felt I needed to try and help in whatever way I could. I am happy to be blessed with the opportunity to help Danny live a fulfilling life. In thinking about the potential of his future years with a new functioning kidney, there was no question about the decision to donate. I am excited to watch him grow up, and hopeful to ease some of the challenges the George family has gone through with his CKD diagnosis."
The George family expressed their gratitude for Trott's act of service.
"We are so incredibly lucky that Molly [Trott] felt inclined to sign up to a be a living donor to Daniel," Mary Beth said. "We know the decision to be a donor is not an easy one and Molly has been selfless and humble through the whole process. We can never repay her for her act of love for Daniel and our family. She will always be a part of our family. The support we have received from our own families, friends, colleagues and the Pittsburgh community has been overwhelming." Pitt volleyball student-athletes Kayla Lund (left) and Chinaza Ndee (right) with Daniel George and Mary Beth George (middle) (Nov. 5, 2021, Fitzgerald Field House)
In May 2021, with the assistance of the Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA)and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Donor Registry, the George family launched a campaign called "Daniel Strong" for support and fundraising assistance. COTA is the nation's only fundraising organization solely dedicated to raising life-saving dollars in honor of transplant-needy children and young adults. One hundred percent of each contribution made to COTA in honor of patients helps meet transplant-related expenses.
With the help of fundraising events organized by the family's COTA volunteer team, led by close family friend and Pitt Athletic Trainer Kate McCartney, the campaign has raised more than $57,000 for the George family, with a goal of $75,000.
"Daniel's story is just one of thousands that both UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and COTA deal with on a daily basis," Mary Beth said. "Our doctors, the transplant team, and the rest of the staff at Children's Hospital have been more than amazing from my pregnancy, to hour one of Daniel's life, to this day. They have helped us in every step of our journey, and we are so fortunate to have them in our backyard. COTA has been another amazing organization that have supported us over the past six months and will continue to support us throughout Daniel's life. Their services provide us with a peace of mind that if issues arise or when Daniel is an adult on his own, he will have the resources to help pay for his health care." The Pitt volleyball team celebrates with Daniel George following a win over Syracuse. George served as honorary captain for the team's "Daniel Strong Night" against the Orange (Nov. 5, 2021, Fitzgerald Field House).
To learn more about Daniel's story and to donate to the Daniel Strong campaign, please visit COTAForDanielStrong.com.
