You never think you'll find yourself in the hospital while on vacation, but on the last day of visiting friends in Los Angeles, my daughter Lennon began vomiting greenish yellow and would not stop. I just had that mom feeling of knowing something was really, really wrong. Right away I took her to an urgent care center, where I was told to go straight to Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

When we got to the emergency room, Lennon had a seizure that lasted for seven minutes. It felt like every doctor, every nurse, every tech was in our room trying to help her. I ran out and the only thing I remember was sitting on the floor in the hallway and sobbing.

Lennon was diagnosed with life-threatening acute liver failure and was added to the transplant list as "Status 1A"—the highest ranking possible.

John, you might be able to imagine how helpless I felt, knowing that my beautiful, happy, energetic baby would need a miracle to survive. In the scariest moment of our lives, Children's Hospital Los Angeles was there for us—and I want them to be there for the next family, too.

Children's Hospital Los Angeles' Make March Matter campaign ends tomorrow at midnight—and so does your opportunity to DOUBLE your impact for sick and injured children—like my daughter Lennon. Donate today and your gift of $10 or more will be MATCHED dollar for dollar to help bring 2X the hope to families like mine.

Over the next 24 hours, Lennon's condition worsened. Her other organs began to fail, she required a breathing tube and ventilator, dialysis for her kidneys, and because her liver was not functioning properly, she was at risk for life-threatening bleeding. The doctors told me that if she didn't receive a transplant within a week, the odds of her surviving were dire—less than 10%.

After that harrowing night in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), a miracle happened—Lennon received a liver transplant. I was so relieved and happy after everything she had been through, all I could do was cry for joy.

Today, Lennon is 3 years old and loves doing your typical toddler things. She's enrolled in an early-start preschool and enjoys playing with her friends. We're finally able to live a more normal family life now, thanks to the care she received from the doctors, nurses and other staff at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

Coming to a hospital can be terrifying. But now, whenever we visit Children's Hospital Los Angeles, we can't walk through the halls without recognizing someone and giving them a hug. That's just what it's like here. Everyone cared for my child as if she was their own. It's really incredible.

John, will you help me make sure that every child who comes to the hospital gets the critical, lifesaving care they need?

Please make a generous gift of $10 or more to the Children's Fund by midnight, and your gift will be MATCHED dollar for dollar, up to $20,000.

Make March Matter by making a difference for sick and injured kids at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

Sincerely,

Althea Grace Patient Parent Children's Hospital Los Angeles