Cora is 7 years old and was born at 28 weeks. She is an only child, and will always be, due to her mummy's own health... She is one special little girl, who has complex medical needs - she is missing over 80% of her brain tissues (has rim of cortex, that's it. Its similar to micro-hydroencaphily), uncontrollable epilepsy, cerabal palsy, dystonia, hydrocephalus with a vp shunt, scoliosis, GDD, bilateral tallipies, partially blind, has a peg, mostly tube fed, can't walk, talk, sit or hold her head, has no self-awareness and needs bi-pap overnight yet she always has a smile on her face. Throughout her short life, Cora has had many health scares, incl one particularly scary episode back in Nov 2013, when doctors didn't expect her to survive 24hours!!! Yet she had other ideas, and proved everyone wrong, and fought through to still be here at the minute. Unfortunately, Just before Christmas 2015, Cora went into hospital for tests to be carried out. These where meant to be straight forward sleep studies, but The results have been devastating for Cora and her family, as they have revealed Cora now has brain failure, and were told to make Christmas 2015 count as it most likely will be her last...
Due to Cora's brain failure, this is causing the signals to make the heart beat become weaker, therefore Cora's heartrate will sit around 30-which is well under the normal rate. When Cora falls asleep, and her heartrate goes low, she will have what is known as hypothermic episodes. This is basically where Cora's body starts to shut down, she has an unreadable temp (below that at which the body can work), her blood pressure drops dangerously low and urine output stops, due to organs shutting down and she goes very white and clamy. Its extremely scary to see, as the worry is, her heartrate will, some day, just stop completely, and she will pass away. Yet no-one knows when this could happen. it could be days/weeks or even months,(preferably even longer) but it makes EVERY single day a miracle that Cora is here. In layman's terms, every night when she falls asleep, its like she is getting ready to pass away, but so far, Cora comes round, and that's all we could ask for. There's absolutely nothing anyone can do to prevent this all from happening. No medicine or intervention, as its Cora's wee head and the signals, not her actual heart. Cora is going to prove doctors wrong again, and wants to share her journey with you all. It is going to be a tough road from here on out, but Cora and her family are determined that there are more magical memories to be made, and plenty of priceless smiles to be seen...
This is a place where anyone who cares for Cora, to follow her journey/story. Its one of a special princess called Cora, whose smiles brighten up the darkest of days and fill many a heart with love. Cora has a small 'wish-list that her family hope to fulfil, any help, advice or support would be greatly appreciated. We thank everyone in advance for absolutely everything. Its the positives in life we need to focus on.
