New liver means new life for Cape Coral girl

Jul 24, 2026 By CJ HADDAD 7 min read

A young girl in Cape Coral is fighting back strong after undergoing a life-saving liver transplant earlier this year.

Genesis Torres, 11, has battled her entire life. Described by those who care for her as selfless and full of life, Genesis was in need of a liver transplant, and successfully underwent the procedure in February.

While she has responded tremendously to the transplant, her family, namely her mother Aileen Torres, is still faced with a financial burden from hospital bills, travel to central Florida multiple times per week, and household expenses.

A national non-profit is now aiming to raise funds to assist Genesis and her mother on their journey back to finding normalcy.

The Children’s Organ Transplant Association is a national 501(c)3 charity dedicated to organizing and guiding communities in raising funds for transplant-related expenses. In Cape Coral, volunteers are raising funds for COTA in honor of transplant patients like Genesis.

Volunteers are looking to raise $40,000 for COTA to assist with transplant-related expenses.

Aileen said she had prayed every day to have a child after some difficulty, and when Genesis was born, her prayers were answered.

At birth, though, there were immediate signs Genesis was not totally healthy.

“Genesis was immediately put on a lot of medications,” Aileen said. “She was jaundiced and had a high bilirubin requiring her to spend a week in the neonatal intensive care unit before she could go home with me. I was still overjoyed to have my little baby. She was so perfect and I knew I would go through anything for her. As she grew her eyes and skin turned yellow. I took her to all of the specialists, and that began my daughter’s journey to multiple physician visits consistently throughout the year, every year, even to this day. By the age of 1.5-months-old, Genesis had to have surgery for biliary atresia.”

Over the years, Genesis’ condition was monitored, and her skin and eyes still remained yellow.

“Sometimes other children would make her feel insecure, so I started her in programs that would build her confidence — ice skating, dance, art, choir, and others,” Aileen said. “By 2024, I started noticing Genesis’ stomach swelling even more, her eyes becoming even more yellow. Her skin was so dry and her scalp was flaking a lot. She was winded easily, tired more often and ate less and less.”

In 2025, Aileen was told Genesis would eventually need a liver transplant, and she relocated and established care in Florida. Genesis attended Hector A Cafferata Elementary, where Aileen said she thrived, making many new friends in a new community, and excelling in school.

Unfortunately, her health began to decline even more.

“Genesis started sleeping a lot,” Aileen said. “It was difficult to get her to eat — she would get upset when I tried to get her to eat something. Her energy levels were so low, and I became even more concerned for her, as she slept almost all day long. I was giving her all of the medications instructed, forcing her to eat something to keep her healthy, giving her nutritional shakes prescribed by the physicians and ensuring she drank water consistently.”

Earlier this year, Aileen and Genesis were driving three hours one way to see specialists she needed up to three times each week. Aileen’s ability to work was diminished significantly.

As more and more signs arrived that a transplant was needed imminently, Genesis was put on the transplant list. Aileen said when that happened, her condition became worse at an even more rapid pace. Genesis needed multiple trips to the hospital for scoping, blood clot clamping, rehydration, and drainage of fluid buildup.

There were two anonymous live donors and a family friend who stepped up to be tested, but the process would take months to test just one person, and Genesis was running out of time.

“Then, I received the call,” Aileen said. “There was a liver available and we needed to get to the hospital as soon as possible. The live donors were going to donate one-third of their liver to Genesis and hope it regenerated. This was a whole liver from a deceased donor. We packed our bags and started the three-hour drive to the hospital. We arrived and everything was happening so fast. The next morning Genesis went into surgery. It took almost nine hours, but everything was successful. Praise God.”

Aileen said following the procedure, it was the first time she saw her daughter’s eyes white and not yellow. Her skin was no longer discolored by jaundice.

“The recovery process has been very difficult, but we are making it through,” Aileen said. “Genesis needs continued care, medications, nutrition, germ prevention — mask wearing and constant hand washing. Genesis is not able to return to her school this year and will start home study once able.”

A family-friend of Aileen and Genesis, Tabitha Duckrey Barrot, has stepped up as the campaign coordinator for the pair through COTA.

Barrot met Aileen and Genesis through her daughter, who is friends with Genesis.

“Genesis is an active child that loves to dance, and is really good at it,” Barrot said. “You can throw anything at her, and she picks up the moves almost immediately.

“She loves to make videos with her friends, like with my daughter. They have videos saying they’re ‘besties’ together. She’s a very giving child. She will give to somebody and not even think about what she’s losing. She’s loving and giving.”

Barrot seconded Aileen’s remarks about her skin and eyes following the transplant, that she had never seen them not shaded yellow.

“After her transplant, it was like they cleared up almost immediately,” she said. “She was a different person. They gave her medications that promote eating and she’s gained weight. She’s doing great and almost looks like a completely different child.”

The funding through COTA will assist with not just medical expenses, but the burdens of travel and to assist with mortgage payments for their home.

“That’s a huge stressor right now,” Barrot said. “She’s at risk of losing her home.”

Barrot said being able to work was just not an option with the immense care Aileen, a single parent, provides. There is no one else in Aileen’s life to assist.

“It’s unfortunate to have to worry about what you’re going to do to house and feed your child,” Barrot said. “There’s also car insurance payments… it’s weighing very heavily on her.

“To have Genesis has been something her heart has sought after for such a long time, and then to have the child be ill once you get that child — it’s been a really difficult battle for her since she was one month old.”

As to why those in Southwest Florida should assist the family, Barrot said, “Because they are such a caring and giving family. Even Aileen. If she sees a need for somebody, she’s the first person to reach out and help. She has done services for people that have lost their hair — ones that cost between $300 and up to $1,5000 — for free if she had the materials available. They’re just very kind, loving people.”

Barrot said Genesis would stay with her on weekends so Aileen could work to ensure they had what they needed.

Through COTA, 100% of each contribution made in honor of its patients helps meet transplant-related expenses. COTA’s services are free to families, and gifts to COTA are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

To make a donation to Genesis, visit cota.org/cotaforgenesisjourney/our-story.

To reach CJ HADDAD, please email cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com