About Paitn Marie Verrill
Calling All Angels!!
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Stand-upComedy Show & Live Auction 6/13/09
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Hello, my name is Paitn Marie Verrill and I am from Gardiner, Maine. I was born on May 27, 2007 at 10:40 a.m. in Waterville, Maine. I have bright blue eyes, gorgeous red hair, an infectious smile and a spirit that is beyond description. Everyone always asks if I have a 'red head attitude'. Well, yeah.....basically, I know what I want and when I want it. But to know me is.......to love me.
On January 28th, 2008, the day after I turned 8 months old -- my life and the lives of those that love me changed forever. My parents, Ashley Hathaway and James Verrill took me to the Maine General Medical Center emergency room, in Augusta, Maine for what they believed was a cold. My heart rate accelerated to over 250. Me and my Mama were airlifted to Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine while my Dada drove like crazy to meet us there. On January 30, 2008, I was transported, via ambulance, to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit of Boston Children's Hospital where my Mama, Dada, along with many doctors and nurses took very good care of me. I was diagnosed with RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and Dilated Cardiomyopathy, "which means big heart" a condition where my heart became enlarged and weakened, and my heart could not efficiently pump my blood. I needed a heart transplant, fast!!
I was listed for a heart transplant on the day after Valentine’s. Four days later, it was decided that I would receive a Berlin Heart EXCOR Pediatric VAD (ventricular assist device) to assist me and keep me alive until my perfect heart arrived. The Berlin Heart is the only pediatric heart pump that provides medium-to-long-term mechanical circulatory support for infants and children awaiting heart transplantations. The device has been approved in Germany and Europe since 1992, but does not have FDA approval for use in pediatric hospitals in the United States. I received my Berlin Heart on February 23, 2008 under the FDA’s emergency or “compassionate use” regulations.
My perfect new heart arrived on March 19, 2008!!! I received the most generous gift of a second chance at life from people who do not even know me.....for that I will forever be grateful. I was discharged from the hospital on April 8, 2008. My parents and I spent some time with GA Mary and GU Ted in Manchester, NH who were very kind to give us a temporary home close to BCH.
I arrived back home in Maine on May 13, 2008 to a very nice G-Town welcome. We quietly celebrated my first birthday on May 27, 2008 as my Mama and Dada are post-poning the really big celebration until I am well enough to be with lots and lots of Team Paitn members.
Currently, I still make weekly trips to Boston or Portland and I am on 10 medications that help me keep my new heart. My Team has signed on with a great organization, Children’s Organ Transplant Association, (COTA), a national charity based in Bloomington, Indiana. COTA is dedicated to organizing and guiding communities in raising funds for transplant-needy patients. COTA’s services are completely free of charge and 100% of funds generated by COTA fundraising campaigns are available for transplant-related expenses. Did you know that most transplants last only 10 - 20 years? With the cost of transplant related expenses often exceeding $500,000, many transplant patients are unable to shoulder the burden of transplant and transplant related expenses.
My Team's goal is to raise an estimated $60,000 for transplant and transplant related expenses. I show my team how much I appreciate their efforts by living life the 'Paitn way' as I truly appreciate their generosity which has given me a second chance at life
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Let's all do the Paitn! Why not give a gesture, wave, smile, dance, hug or kiss to someone in your life that needs it? No one knows what tomorrow will bring so pay it forward while you have the chance. Thank you ~ Miss Paitn Marie
Campaign Goal
COTA is dedicated to organizing and guiding communities in raising funds for transplant-needy patients. The Children's Organ Transplant Association has 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status to aid local campaigns in soliciting funds, and all contributions are fully deductible as allowable by law for income tax purposes. COTA's services are completely free of charge and 100% of funds generaged by COTA fundraising campaigns are available for transplant - related expenses.
The goal is to raise $60,000. Click here to see how we are doing. If you wish to make a contribution, 100% of the funds raised will help pay for Paitn's transplant and transplant related expenses.
COTA for Paitn V. Fundraising Results
COTA for Paitn V.
Fundraising Results
| Campaign Activity |
Total Proceeds |
| 50 / 50 Raffle |
$2,500 |
| COTA for Paitn V Golf Classic 2008 |
$6,532 |
| Recycle for Life as of September 2008 |
$73 |
| Bottle Drive as of September 2008 |
$160 |
updated September 21, 2008
Thank You Team Paitn!
Team Paitn~
Trying to reduce a little girl’s miraculous adventure into a few hundred words seems impossible, but we will try. Paitn Marie Verrill, born May 27, 2007, was diagnosed on January 30, 2008, with a condition known as Dilated Cardiomyopathy—enlargement of the heart. 
With a heart transplant her only hope for a “Happily Ever After,” our family faced a mountain of emotional, financial and physical challenges. Now, with so much support, love, and prayer from family, friends, and worldwide “Paitn fans”, we are on our way to a happy ending.
Through this long and overwhelming journey, we have had family and friends give us emotional and financial support. We wish to thank every individual who has held our family in their hearts over the past few months. All of you waited for a solution, clasped your hands in prayer, cried, shook in fear, and, in the end, wept tears of joy. Now, Paitn can come home after being given a second chance at life. This chance is due to the most generous gift of all…a gift from total stranger…the gift of organ donation.
Paitn just celebrated her first birthday and she has not missed a beat. She stands, dances, ‘shakes her booty’, claps her hands in excitement, waves, and screams in angst when she wants something to eat. To simplify things… she is “normal.”
We have cleared one hurdle, but we will face many more. Did you know that most heart transplants only last 10 to 20 years? Paitn’s journey is far from over. Our family is working with a great organization, the Children’s Organ Transplant Association, (COTA), a national charity based in Bloomington, Indiana.
COTA is dedicated to organizing and guiding communities in raising funds for transplant-needy patients. COTA’s services are completely free of charge and 100% of funds generated by COTA fundraising campaigns are available for transplant-related expenses. COTA has provided us with a website, www.cotaforpaitnv.com, where you can follow Paitn’s progress and read more about her journey. To find out more about COTA visit www.cota.org or call 1-800-366-2682.
Thank you for all you have done and for helping Paitn have a future. We thank you - from the bottom of Paitn’s perfect new heart.
Ashley Hathaway and James Verrill
Gardiner, Maine
Email: ahathaway@COTAforPaitnV.com
Ways to Contribute
There are several ways to contribute to the COTA for Paitn V campaign:
- Checks or money orders, payable to COTA, with "In Honor of Paitn V" written on the memo line of the check and mailed to: Children's Organ Transplant Association, 2501 COTA Drive, Bloomington, Indiana, 47403;
- Secure credit card donations are also accepted online by clicking here or go to the "Donate" tab at the top of this page;
- Donations can be deposited at any Bank of America branch. The account name is "COTA for Paitn V"; the account number is 004580581634;
- Any in-kind gifts to aid our COTA for Paitn V fundraising efforts are welcomed and will be greatly appreciated;
- Volunteer;
- Participate in Recycle for Life; and/or
- Follow Paitn's Journey by signing up for email updates.
The Children's Organ Transplant Association has 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status to aid local campaigns and all contributions are fully deductible as allowable by law for income tax purposes.