"You have a 27 year old daughter...she'd like to know if it's okay to contact you."
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"You have a 27 year old daughter...she'd like to know if it's okay to contact you."

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Gary Fuller was happily married with three children and a respected leader in a national organization. Then he received a surprise phone call from a college girlfriend. 

Solana Cortez had grown up without a dad. That’s a bit misleading. She had a series of step-fathers. But none shouldered the responsibility of a real “Dad.”

It took Solana a year of searching for her biological father before she found Gary and her mom made that call. Gary’s answer was “YES!”

Two days later Solana and Gary spoke and a remarkable dad-daughter relationship was born. That was four years ago. Not only have Solana and Gary’s lives been changed but also two extended families have been transformed.

Solana was born with Cystic Fibrosis.

CF is a genetic disease that can make every breath difficult and takes the life of most CF patients before they turn 35. Gary learned that on top of being a delinquent dad, he carried the genetic marker which gave Solana the disease that could take her life.

In February 2013, Solana had a successful double-lung transplant. Her lungs are now CF free.

Solana and Gary want to share their stories with you. They hope you’ll be encouraged.


The Give button on every page of this website is a direct link to the secure donation page that the Children’s Organ Transplant Association has created for those who wish to help Solana with her transplant expenses. New contributions will help pay for about $30,000 of unfunded posttransplant treatment projected for Solana. Thank you for any tax deductible donation you choose to make.
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