Boy, 13, Dies While Waiting For Organ Transplant

A Georgia teenager died on Monday after spending more than a year on an organ transplant waiting list.

Dalton Michael Robinson, 13, of Cartersville passed away July 27 at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston following an extended illness.

“He passed peacefully,” according to a post on the Hope For Dalton Facebook page. “My and paw-paw’s hearts are broken. We are so sad. Please pray for the days ahead.”

Dalton was born Dec. 9, 2001, and was diagnosed with Short Bowel Syndrome around the age of two, according to the Children’s Organ Transplant Association.

The syndrome happens when part of the small intestines is missing, resulting in malabsorption of key nutrients, the United States National Library of Medicine states.

After receiving numerous treatments over the last several years, Dalton was added to the national organ transplant waiting list in March 2014. Doctors at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania recommended a life-saving multivisceral transplant.

“Dalton’s condition and recommended treatment of a five-organ transplant were rare and his condition (was) extremely serious,” COTA said.

The Hope For Dalton Facebook page was created to document Dalton’s treatment and to publicize fundraising efforts to pay for any transplant-related expenses.

The funeral for Dalton will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1 at Parnick Jennings Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Cartersville, according to his obituary. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

“Dalton was someone who always thought of others before himself,” his obituary reads. “He was as normal as any child could be with his medical conditions playing his video games, his X-Box, listening to music and fishing. He was our hero.”

Survivors include grandmother, Zandra Williford; his grandfather, Allan Williford, both of Cartersville; his aunt, Stephanie Crowley of Grayson; his uncle, Shane Williford and wife, Kysha of White; along with several other aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death was his mother, April Robinson.

Flowers will be accepted, but for those who wish, the family request donations be made to The Children’s Organ Transplant Association, 2501 West COTA Drive, Bloomington, Indiana, 47403.

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Photo credit: Children’s Organ Transplant Association