Christina was born On April 9, 1989. Soon after her birth it was discovered that she had a heart defect.
She was first diagnosed with a PDA, and had surgery to repair that when she was one year old. She was also diagnosed
with aortic and sub aortic stenosis. She had 2 catherizations and one surgery, after which she was diagnosed with Shone’s
syndrome (a collection of heart defects on the left side of the heart). She went into the hospital on September 29, 1997 for
a heart valve replacement. She suffered complications from this surgery, and never awoke after the procedure.
She spent 3 weeks waiting for a heart transplant, but 5 days after receiving a new heart, she lost her fight on Halloween
– October 31, 1997.
Christina was a remarkable, vivacious and incredibly happy child. She was an 8-year-old girl full of life, with the
richest, silliest laugh that you couldn’t resist. She loved being with her friends, playing. She loved school,
and was always so proud of her accomplishments and assignments from school. Her favorite activities were drawing, painting,
reading, riding her bike, and being silly. She loved being with her grandparents, cousins, and her stepbrother and sister.
She had a large extended family and she was loved by all, and she treasured all of them. She was very accepting and
forgiving of others, always concerned about the other kids in the hospital while she was there.
She was creative and playful, creating her own worlds and stories with her biggest treasure, her Barbie dolls. She
may have suffered more than any of us could have known. Yet, she lived her life with so much happiness, contentment,
and a sense of caring, patience and appreciation that she taught us all an important lesson.
This is the Christina
that we remember, and the one that will live on with all of us. She would be proud of the work that her foundation is
doing to help other children.
Christina's photo album.
Click on the images below to see the full-sized image.
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| Christina as a newborn 1989 |
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| Christina as an infant 1989 |
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| Christina after a face-painting festival 7/94 |
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| Christina - The Captain of the boat |
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| Christina at the playground |
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| Christina with her dad, Mike at his wedding 1995 |
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| Christina with Santa 1995 |
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| Christina with her dad, Mike and stepmother, Kim at the Christening of her stepsister, Sabrina |
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| Christina celebrating her 8th birthday April, 1997 |
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| Christina and friends at Christina's 8th birthday party April, 1997 |
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| Christina with her stepsister, Sabrina and cousin 8/24/97 |
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| Christina with her stepsister, Sabrina and stepbrother, Mikey |
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| Christina with her "baby" Sarah, and her babysitter Sarah and Sam 9/97 |
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| Christina with her mom, Lynne, the day before entering the hospital 9/97 |
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