Pictured L-R, Dave Hollon, Patty Cote, Vanessa Van Nguyen, Christine Cote, Tome Carr, Gina Martinez, Eric Martinez, Ed Cote
There is an old saying about big things coming in small packages. Twenty-eight year old Christine Cote is the embodiment of that adage.
This petite young woman exhibits strength and courage in most everything she does. She has been active for years in her church and in the community, all the while dealing with childhood rheumatoid arthritis.
Five years ago, Christine received a devastating diagnosis of liver cancer and was told she had weeks to a few months to live. When asked at that time what she was going to do, she replied that she was going to return to Cal State Fullerton and finish her degree. She did.
More than once since that time, Christine has been in critical condition, but has continued to with the support of her family and prayer partners to confound any objective observer with her perseverance. Last year she provided a lesson to a Confirmation class at her church via video from her hospital bed.
After being rejected as a transplant candidate at several medical centers, Christine has been accepted into the liver transplant program at UCLA. She and her parents Ed and Patty are passionate about their faith and organ donor registration.
The Cote family hosted One Legacy in sponsoring a Give Life Give Thanks event on April 11 at its multi-cultural faith community, St. Callistus Catholic Church in Garden Grove. Christine offered her personal testimony at multiple services, with Donate Life Ambassadors Dave Hollon, Marissa Carr and One Legacy Communications Specialist Vanessa Van Nguyen providing supplemental comments and information to Masses in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. Parish Pastor Father Tuyen Nguyen, himself uncle to an organ donor, allowed Donate Life to facilitate an information table between Masses. Large crowds gathered before and after services to ask questions and gain insight into the donor registry.
Heroes and angels are indeed among us.
0 COMMENTS:
Post a Comment