Thank you, Weston.
After Ellie Bargmann was unable to donate blood at West Platte High School, she learned she needed a kidney transplant. Ellie has only one functioning kidney, and it is severely impaired. Her other kidney never developed.
The diagnosis — Stage 4 chronic kidney disease — explains Ellie’s lifelong fatigue and need for additional sleep. She has been living with the condition her entire life.
A few months later, in March 2026, a small group of us began working with the Children’s Organ Transplant Association, or COTA, to raise $60,000 in Ellie’s honor.
For 40 years, COTA has helped families like Ellie’s navigate organ transplants and the related expenses not covered by medical insurance. Its experts will support Ellie throughout her lifetime. COTA’s services are free to families, and donations to COTA in honor of Ellie’s Journey are tax-deductible.
In the meantime, Ellie graduated as West Platte High School’s valedictorian and received a full scholarship to the University of Missouri. She lives in an honors residence hall and entered college as a sophomore after earning college credits at West Platte.
Ellie is a high-performing, goal-oriented teenager. She plans to complete her undergraduate degree in three years, allowing her to prepare for a kidney transplant and the yearlong recovery expected to follow before she enters graduate school.
Her transition to college includes working with her counselor to limit early-morning classes and consulting with dietitians to navigate the university’s dining options. Ellie must follow a kidney-friendly diet that is low in sodium and potassium.
Ellie’s doctors describe her as a model patient who follows all recommended medication, dietary and lifestyle guidelines to support her kidney health. She also exercises five to six days a week.
We are now about $4,000 short of our $60,000 fundraising goal. We will have a booth at Applefest featuring handcrafted items from Weston as we work to close that gap.
We are deeply grateful to this loving community for supporting us over the past several months. We have held dances at health clubs and in a tobacco barn, hosted a barbecue dinner and organized a garden and historic homes tour party. We also held a comedy night at The Funny Bone in Zona Rosa.
We have felt your genuine care and benefited from your generosity.
Thank you, Weston. This remarkable community lifts people up.
Ellie Bargmann exemplifies patience, perseverance and hope. She is showing all of us how to believe in new beginnings — and how to live accordingly.
With sincere gratitude and appreciation,
Laurel Green
COTA campaign coordinator
Janiene Shroyer
COTA website coordinator
Karri Merritt
COTA public relations and outreach coordinator
Starla Bargmann
Ellie’s mother and greatest advocate
