Cole Anthony Laviano
Cole was a beautiful, sweet loving three year old little boy. He didn't talk, walk, sit, stand or eat orally. He had a gastric tube in his stomach and was fed and medicated through the tube. He under went surgery three times to stop him from suffering from sever acid reflux. He had a metabolic disorder that causes him to have seizures daily (which increased his reflux disorder), high muscle tone and a gag reflexes. Through all of this he still managed each day to stay calm, make sounds to gesture his love and affection, smile, laugh and hug you when you held him.
Cole taught all of us to see the beauty god graced us with in this world and not to take a minute of it for granted. Cole had two siblings. His older brother, Michael, and younger sister, Lynzie whom were very involved with his care and were very affectionate to him. Each gifted with a tallent for showing compassion and love beyond a parents wildest dreams.
Cole's loving nature and gentle spirit has capture the hearts of so many people around the globe. His strength to endure has made us all realize how much we take for granted every day. He was the spitting image of his father, Michael, and strong willed just the same. As most fathers can imagine, having a son effected with a devastating disorder has been the hardest thing for Michael to cope with. All fathers at one time or another have visions of playing ball, going camping and catching a big fish together. It wasn't easy to accept that he or l would never get to do some of those things with him. There were ways to still spend quality time together, such taking him to the beach last summer (see pictures to the right by rolling your mouse over the image), it was just a little more work and patience to make it happen. Seeing the look in his eyes and the smile on his face when he experienced something new was priceless! Memories are so precious, more now then we ever would have imagined.
It's so amazing how he could make you feel so much love and affection from a child that couldn't talk, walk or even hold an object. He taught us what unconditional love really means. Cole opened up our hearts in a way no human could. Learning to read Cole's body movement, tones in his cries and looks in his eyes to understand what he was feeling and what he needed was a level of communication most people never experience between one and another. To see into a child's heart without a word is truly an amazing feeling. Cole was the greatest gift we've ever been given. He touch us all with a gift of love so deep will shall never forget.
On December 16, 2002 Cole became very ill after undergoing surgery on Decemeber 15th. He tried to over come this as he did so many times before in his many hospitalizations, but his body just couldn't endure any more. He was with both myself and his father in my arms when died and among many family members and friends who loved him dearly. He was laid to rest on Friday, December 20, 2002 in Santa Clara, California at the Catholic Mission Cemetary amongst other children in "All Saints."
