Cora and Bob married in 1970; they knew nothing of the wild ride they would experience over the course of several decades. Bob had his first heart attack in 1990 and was placed on the transplant waiting list in 2000. A year later, Bob received a new heart, and Cora and Bob became active Mended Hearts and Donate Life Ambassadors volunteers to educate the community about organ donation. After eight additional years together, Bob passed away in 2009. Cora is one of the "Golden Girls," six senior women who are among the most active Donate Life Ambassadors. Her passion for the Donate Life mission has enriched her life beyond measure. Said Cora, "It is a great feeling to be able to help others."

Cora's Story

Cora is a retired teacher/librarian, having taught for 36 years during her career. In 1970, a student introduced Cora to Bob, who became her husband six months later. They knew nothing of the wild ride they would experience several decades later.

Bob had his first heart attack in 1990. He was placed on the Cedars Sinai transplant list in 2000 as he progressed to the final stages of congestive heart failure. He had been at Cedars for 17 days in April 2001, and had often heard the whap-whapping of a helicopter landing on Cedars-Sinai's helipad. He knew it carried critically ill patients and accident victims to the hospital, and wondered if it carried a heart for him. Finally, on May 6, 2001, the helicopter DID carry a heart for him. That night, Bob received Tim Baptista's heart, thus transforming two families' lives forever. Cora was giddy with excitement and exhilaration when Bob's surgeon told her that Bob was going to be ok and that the heart started to beat before she could get it sewn in.

After Bob's recovery, Cora and Bob became Donate Life Ambassadors, which helped them to become good stewards of Tim's heart and educate the community about organ donation and transplantation.

Bob directed his Ambassadorship toward Mended Hearts, Inc., a national support group for people with heart disease, while Cora began to attend tabling events, speak to groups and accept proclamations. Today, Cora is part of the "Golden Girls," a team of volunteers who provides support for the Ambassadors involved in all the One Legacy campaigns.

Sadly, Bob passed away in 2009 from non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Cora and Bob had eight-and-a-half additional years together due to the Baptistas' generosity.

Cora's passion for Donate Life has become an avocation that has enriched her life beyond measure. She finds herself compelled to pass the "word" along as often as possible. She gives a lot of time and effort to Donate Life, but it also enriches and blesses her life. Cora said, "As each task or event that I work on builds up to its crescendo and unfolds into its successful conclusion, I always have a tremendous sense of happiness and accomplishment that I was part of something that brought inspiration and contentment to many others. It is a great feeling to be able to help others." Because of her tremendous dedication, Cora was chosen to ride on the 2012 Rose Parade Float to represent her Donate Life Ambassador peers.