Fiona Coote is a heart transplant recipient who, upon undergoing surgery, by Dr. Victor Chang, at the age of 14 on 8 April 1984, became Australia's youngest heart transplant recipient.[1][2] While Coote was the fourth transplant recipient in Australia, she is only the second to survive for a significant period.[3][4]
Personal life
Born on 3 January 1970 and growing up on a family farm, Galen, 8 km (5 mi) from Manilla in northern New South Wales, Coote attended a private Catholic school near Tamworth.[5] She married in 1996.[6][7]
Heart transplant
The procedure was performed by the Chinese–Australian cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Victor Chang.[8] The urgency was due to complications of viral-induced tonsilitis that dramatically weakened her heart.[2][8] The surgery was performed at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney.[8] When she later began rejecting the first heart, Coote was forced to endure a second transplant, which took place in 1986.[2] She has enjoyed good health since.[8]
Post transplant
Much of Coote's life has been spent in the public eye and she has worked for numerous charitable organisations including the Victor Chang Foundation and the Starlight Foundation.[5] In 1999, Coote was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in recognition of her public awareness promotion of heart disease, and for her work raising funds for seriously and terminally ill children.[9] Coote has also worked in promotions for Willow Valley, a cereal manufacturer, and Dairy Farmers.[10]
As a result of her fame, Coote was approached to appear in the Australian soap Neighbours. Despite beginning rehearsals, Coote ultimately decided acting was not for her.[citation needed] Channel Ten publicly blamed the back down on illness[11] but Coote later attributed it to the associated pressure to participate in interviews and publicity for the show.[5] Coote has made a number of television appearances, including appearing in a segment on Burke's Backyard.
In 2001 a rose was named in honour of Coote. Called "Fiona's Wish", it is a hybrid tea (bush rose) and the bi-coloured blooms are cherry red, edged with gold reverse.[12]
References
- ^ "Fiona's heart still beats strong, 25 years on". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 16 December 2013.
- ^ a b c "25 years of Giving Heart and Lung" (PDF). Pulse. St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney. March 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 March 2012.
- ^ "News Store". Newsstore.fairfax.com.au. Retrieved 5 July 2012.(subscription required)
- ^ "News Store". Newsstore.fairfax.com.au. 16 April 2000. Retrieved 5 July 2012.(subscription required)
- ^ a b c "News Store". Newsstore.fairfax.com.au. 26 June 1993. Retrieved 5 July 2012.(subscription required)
- ^ "News Store". Newsstore.fairfax.com.au. 28 August 1998. Retrieved 5 July 2012.(subscription required)
- ^ "News Store". Newsstore.fairfax.com.au. 28 November 1999. Retrieved 5 July 2012.(subscription required)
- ^ a b c d Fiona Coote defies transplant odds
- ^ "News Store". Newsstore.fairfax.com.au. 14 June 1999. Retrieved 5 July 2012.(subscription required)
- ^ "News Store". Newsstore.fairfax.com.au. 29 August 1999. Retrieved 5 July 2012.(subscription required)
- ^ "News Store". Newsstore.fairfax.com.au. 16 June 1987. Retrieved 5 July 2012.(subscription required)
- ^ "News Store". Newsstore.fairfax.com.au. Retrieved 5 July 2012.(subscription required)
This page was last edited on 1 December 2023, at 15:32