Alese Coco
Encyclopedia
Alese Kristine Coco – (b. March 10, 1984 – d. May 7, 2007) American
woman who became face and voice of Hodgkin’s lymphoma was a strong advocate for research and clinical trials. She was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s in 2001 at the age of 17.
and was the first child to Kathleen Coco (b. 1960- ), also born in Torrance, California. Her father, Paul Coco (b. 1961- ) was born in Los Angeles, California and is employed by Honeywell International. Coco’s siblings include one sister, Shallyn (b. 1986- ) and one brother, Mark (b. 1995- ) who is named after his uncle, Mark J. Coco (b.1959 – d.1996) acclaimed astronomer and astrophotography.
Coco was raised in Rolling Hills Estates, California
where she was enrolled in public school and attended a local church until 1994. Her family moved to Redondo Beach, California
in 1995 where she attended public schools and became a parishioner of Journey of Faith church in Manhattan Beach. In 1997, she attended a private academy for home-schooled students. Coco enrolled in Redondo Union High School
in 1999 as a junior and graduated in the top ten percent of her class in June 2002.
regimen, ABVD
. In September 2002, she relapsed four months after completing her initial treatment and underwent an Autologous Stem cell transplantation (SCT) at UCLA in Westwood, California
in December 2002. She went through 18 rounds of radiation therapy
beginning in March 2003.
Coco remained cancer free for two years after her SCT and experienced a third recurrence on November 18, 2004 at the age of 20. In January 2005, Coco moved to Madison, New Jersey
where she lived in housing provided by Honeywell and was treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City
by lymphoma researcher Dr. Owen O’Connor. http://fight2win.org/aleseoconnor.html.
In May 2006, Coco moved back to California and was treated at City of Hope in Duarte. The plan was for her to be treated at home in Southern California with the understanding that City of Hope oncologists would follow Dr. O’Connor’s treatment plan. In March 2007, during a routine surgery to install a Hickman catheter, a City of Hope surgeon made a serious surgical error causing a hemothorax
. Coco was in ICU for eleven days, nine of which were spent on a ventilator. She survived the tragedy, but never recovered. After her release from City of Hope, Coco immediately sought treatment at UCLA Medical Center. Five days after being released from City of Hope, she was admitted to UCLA with an infection where she remained until her death 49 days later on May 7, 2007. According to sources close to her family, the decision to have her treated at City of Hope was one they’ve always regretted.
, Aspergillus
pneumonia and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
2009 – New York University Cancer Institute in New York City (Midtown Manhattan) will open and dedicate the Alese Coco Hodgkin’s Laboratory. The first and only laboratory in the country dedicated full time to finding a cure for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Formal dedication is scheduled in April 2010.
Coco’s first name remains the highest rated Google search under the heading "Alese".
"Follow your dreams and pursue them with unwavering passion."
"No matter what adversity you face in life, you Fight 2 Win, period."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
woman who became face and voice of Hodgkin’s lymphoma was a strong advocate for research and clinical trials. She was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s in 2001 at the age of 17.
Early Life and Family Background
Alese Coco, a devout Christian, was born in Torrance, CaliforniaTorrance, California
Torrance is a city incorporated in 1921 and located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. Torrance has of shore-front beaches on the Pacific Ocean, quieter and less well-known by tourists than others on the Santa Monica Bay, such as those of neighboring...
and was the first child to Kathleen Coco (b. 1960- ), also born in Torrance, California. Her father, Paul Coco (b. 1961- ) was born in Los Angeles, California and is employed by Honeywell International. Coco’s siblings include one sister, Shallyn (b. 1986- ) and one brother, Mark (b. 1995- ) who is named after his uncle, Mark J. Coco (b.1959 – d.1996) acclaimed astronomer and astrophotography.
Coco was raised in Rolling Hills Estates, California
Rolling Hills Estates, California
Rolling Hills Estates is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 8,067 at the 2010 census, up from 7,676 at the 2000 census....
where she was enrolled in public school and attended a local church until 1994. Her family moved to Redondo Beach, California
Redondo Beach, California
Redondo Beach is one of the three Beach Cities located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 66,748 at the 2010 census, up from 63,261 at the 2000 census. The city is located in the South Bay region of the greater Los Angeles area.Redondo Beach was originally part of...
in 1995 where she attended public schools and became a parishioner of Journey of Faith church in Manhattan Beach. In 1997, she attended a private academy for home-schooled students. Coco enrolled in Redondo Union High School
Redondo Union High School
Redondo Union High School is a public high school in Redondo Beach, California.Redondo Union High School is a part of the Redondo Beach Unified School District....
in 1999 as a junior and graduated in the top ten percent of her class in June 2002.
Cancer
Coco was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma on November 16, 2001 and was treated for six months with the customary Hodgkin’s Lymphoma chemotherapyChemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
regimen, ABVD
ABVD
ABVD is a chemotherapy regimen used in the first-line treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma, supplanting the older MOPP protocol. It consists of concurrent treatment with the chemotherapy drugs:*Adriamycin *bleomycin...
. In September 2002, she relapsed four months after completing her initial treatment and underwent an Autologous Stem cell transplantation (SCT) at UCLA in Westwood, California
Westwood, California
Westwood is a census-designated place in Lassen County, California, United States. Westwood is located west-southwest of Susanville, at an elevation of 5128 feet...
in December 2002. She went through 18 rounds of radiation therapy
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy , radiation oncology, or radiotherapy , sometimes abbreviated to XRT or DXT, is the medical use of ionizing radiation, generally as part of cancer treatment to control malignant cells.Radiation therapy is commonly applied to the cancerous tumor because of its ability to control...
beginning in March 2003.
Coco remained cancer free for two years after her SCT and experienced a third recurrence on November 18, 2004 at the age of 20. In January 2005, Coco moved to Madison, New Jersey
Madison, New Jersey
Madison is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the population was 16,530. It also is known as "The Rose City".-Geography:Madison is located at ....
where she lived in housing provided by Honeywell and was treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
by lymphoma researcher Dr. Owen O’Connor. http://fight2win.org/aleseoconnor.html.
In May 2006, Coco moved back to California and was treated at City of Hope in Duarte. The plan was for her to be treated at home in Southern California with the understanding that City of Hope oncologists would follow Dr. O’Connor’s treatment plan. In March 2007, during a routine surgery to install a Hickman catheter, a City of Hope surgeon made a serious surgical error causing a hemothorax
Hemothorax
A hemothorax is a condition that results from blood accumulating in the pleural cavity.-Cause and presentation:Its cause is usually traumatic, from a blunt or penetrating injury to the thorax, resulting in a rupture of the serous membrane either lining the thorax or covering the lungs...
. Coco was in ICU for eleven days, nine of which were spent on a ventilator. She survived the tragedy, but never recovered. After her release from City of Hope, Coco immediately sought treatment at UCLA Medical Center. Five days after being released from City of Hope, she was admitted to UCLA with an infection where she remained until her death 49 days later on May 7, 2007. According to sources close to her family, the decision to have her treated at City of Hope was one they’ve always regretted.
Death
According to the California death certificate, Alese Coco died at UCLA on May 7, 2007 at 1:20 pm from respiratory failureRespiratory failure
The term respiratory failure, in medicine, is used to describe inadequate gas exchange by the respiratory system, with the result that arterial oxygen and/or carbon dioxide levels cannot be maintained within their normal ranges. A drop in blood oxygenation is known as hypoxemia; a rise in arterial...
, Aspergillus
Aspergillus
Aspergillus is a genus consisting of several hundred mold species found in various climates worldwide. Aspergillus was first catalogued in 1729 by the Italian priest and biologist Pier Antonio Micheli...
pneumonia and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Legacy
July 2007 - The groundwork for the Alese Coco – Fight 2 Win Foundation began. Based in New York, the national campaign bearing her name raises money to fund research grants and raise awareness for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Some of the countries most influential people in the medical, legal and business leaders reside on the Board of Directors. In February 2008, the foundation became a registered non-profit corporation.2009 – New York University Cancer Institute in New York City (Midtown Manhattan) will open and dedicate the Alese Coco Hodgkin’s Laboratory. The first and only laboratory in the country dedicated full time to finding a cure for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Formal dedication is scheduled in April 2010.
World Wide Web
Alese Coco is referenced on hundreds of websites, chat rooms, and Hodgkin’s Lymphoma forums around the world in over a dozen languages.Coco’s first name remains the highest rated Google search under the heading "Alese".
Alese Coco Quotes
"It has been said that ‘you can never be too rich, too thin or too pretty.’ Well, I think, you can never have too much faith, too much hope or smile enough.""Follow your dreams and pursue them with unwavering passion."
"No matter what adversity you face in life, you Fight 2 Win, period."
External links
- http://www.alesecoco.org
- http://www.fight2win.org