Services

Emily and Brooks will receive family and friends Wednesday evening, May 2nd, at Atchley Funeral Home in Seymour from 7-9 pm.

The funeral service will be held Thursday, May 3rd, at Seymour Heights Christian Church on Boyd's Creek at 10 am. Interment will follow on Thursday at Rocky Hill Cemetery on Northshore Drive in Knoxville at 12:30 pm. Robert W. Berry officiating.

In lieu of flowers, Emily and Brooks have requested that donations in honor of Cooper be made to East Tennessee Children's Hospital, 2018 Clinch Ave., Knoxville, Tennessee, 37916.

Thank you all for your prayers and support.

Cooper now plays in heaven

Today at 5:35 Cooper Ogle took his last look at this world and made a leap of faith into the arms of Jesus. The angels rejoiced as they now have a happy loving baby with them to live eternally. Cooper was being held by His mother and father as he was fading, and surrounded by ones who love him dearly. Thank you everyone for you support. We will post as soon as arrangments are made.

With rejoicing hearts,
Cooper's family

Waiting...

It is with faith in God and His wisdom that I am at home today waiting for news of how Cooper is to come home to us. He has had eight months of struggle and the events of the last few days have led us to decide to love him enough to trust him to God. This past few weeks his body has began to breakdown under the insurmountable complications of DiGeorge's Syndrome. Dr Markert, to whom we will always be grateful, has informed us that Cooper is the most complicated case she has dealt with to date. She has recommended that we not choose to prolong his suffering by completing the transplant in which we had placed so much hope. We do not know if Cooper will live hours or days, I will do my best to keep you informed. Please lift Brooks, Emily and Little Coop up to our Lord. "GrandmaRie"

Me and Mommy have a Date!

Good News! Dr. Markert has set the date for my transplants! On May 8, Mommy and I will both have surgery! My Mommy is giving me a parathyroid gland that will help regulate my calcium levels for several months while my immune system builds. Also on May 8, I will also recieve a thymus transplant so that my body can make the "smart" T-cells I need to fight infections and other bad stuff.

The thymus I will recieve will be from a donor baby. In the next few weeks three separate families will be sending their babies for heart surgeries. During those surgeries it will be necessary for the surgeons to remove the thymus as a regular part of their surgery. The three families have agreed to donate that tissue for possible match for me! I do not know who these babies are but God knows so please ask HIM to watch over my friends and give them healing and blessings!

Also please pray that one of the donors will be a good match so that the scheduled transplants will be able to go as planned. It is also important that my body does NOT try to make its own t-cells until the transplant. So timing is very important.

Please join me in thanking God for the donor families, for Dr. Markert & Staff and for Mommy and Daddy. I will need to be at the Research Center for about six months after the transplants so we are still in for a long separation from Daddy.

Also congratulations and a prayer for quick recovery to my new friend Rocky who had his transplant recently!

So many of you have been so generous with your time and resources and again: I thank God for you! Love and Kisses, Little Coop!

Waking Up is Hard to Do....

Hi Everyone!

I am a little groggy from my long sleep but I am awake! I felt very grumpy at first and I told that physical therapist to leave me alone! So she did. Then I waited all pouty until my Mommy came!

And when I saw my Mommy, I was so happy because she knows how I like to be talked to and played with. She made my Lamb-kins walk and talk and cuddle me and I reached really far until I caught it and hugged it! Then we smiled and Mommy called me her "sweet little monster" and we laughed and smiled some more. Then Mommy pushed on my feet and talked about jump, jump, jumping and I pretended that I thought we were really jumping to make Mommy feel better since she can't really pick me up just yet.

My Daddy is coming to see us today! Then Mommy and I will be really happy.

I am not sure yet when we can move on to the transplants but for now I am awake and working very hard to show these nurses how I like things to be done.

Thanks for checking on me and taking good care of Mommy and Daddy while I have been resting.

Love and kisses, Cooper

Trachea Surgery Report

Cooper went to surgery around 4:30. The scope revealed the damaged area was healed so a trachea tube was successfully inserted! It is believed that it reaches past all the "soft" areas remaining from the vascular ring problems. This means that he will likely be able to come completely off the vent soon. Dr wants him to remain still for several more days (5-7). Then they will attempt to wake him up!

He has only been allowed to wake for short periods since January but he always responds and appears to retain his memories and always wants to play! Won't he be surprised at what it is like to be awake and playing everyday! God is truly good!!

Please watch for Cooper on WATE Channel 6 at 11 pm tonight!

Pancake Fundraiser Huge Success!

This is the story of my very own "Baby Cooper Pancake Breakfast." This is my Great Aunt Nancy Sartin (left), she had an idea. So she told my Great -Great Aunt Grace Hartzog. They talked to lots of people! Who talked to lots more people about me. And all of those people were so loving that when they heard about me that they decided to raise money to help my Mommy and Daddy with my hospital bills. And they did a lot of hard work. I am not sure what hard work is but I have been told that before my heart surgery I worked very hard to breathe. If it is anything like that well I am really impressed!

Now I do not know what a pancake is but they must be very valuable because by giving away free pancakes my family and friends raised $3750+ dollars for me!

I have not even met my "Adams" family yet but they show me so much love! You can see it on the faces of my Great-Great Aunts Nelle Schean(left) and Grace (right). Aunt Grace is really someone special because all of her good friends at First Baptist Concord have poured out tons of love and concern for me because of her great example; not to mention generously donating time, money and supplies.

Mommy and Daddy and I are overwhelmed with the love! I do not know about alot of things other 6 months old children know but I know love very well. It is what has keep me breathing when I was almost to tired to keep going.

My good friend at WATE Kristin Farley could not be at the breakfast but she asked Erica Estep to come as her reprentative. I have met Kristin several times and hope to meet Erica one day! That is Erica with my GrandmaRie (Donna Cooper) and Papa Z (Rick Cooper) and my beautiful Mommy (Emily Ogle)!

Thank you to all the sponsors! Wampler's Sausage, Fresh Market, Elm Hill, Weigels, Kroger, Food City, Rouser Corporation, and WATE Channel 6! I want to also mention my friends at White Star Market in Seymour who have raised over $300 since November by keeping a donation jar in the deli area. Thanks for the love! "Cooper"

Scope Report

The ENT did a scope of Cooper's trachea today to determine the extent of damage from last weeks trachea attempt. The good news is the rupture is healing and a dye test revealed no leakage. Cooper appears to have no brain damage; however he will need to be sedated for another 2 weeks for the healing to complete. This is two more weeks of not being up and alert and learning. We pray that God is working on the things Cooper needs. At the end of the 2 weeks, another scope will be done and then a trachea tube inserted. In the meantime his red blood cells are low and transfusions have been required. We are grateful for the support of the Knoxville, Seymour and Sevierville communities as well as the prayers from around the world!

Pancake Breakfast-- You are invited!

Click to see a larger Image!

Then plan to join us for Yummy Pancakes!

And show your support for "Little Coop"

Contact information: Grace Hartzoz (865)671-3155 or 705-2709

Our thanks to corporate sponsors:

Kroger

Food City

Ingles

Wamplers

Elm Hill

Fresh Market

Weigels

And to WATE Channel 6

"Waiting is so hard" said the little christian!

Waiting. Waiting. I am such an impatient christian. But God knows this. I prayed with my friend today, "Please don't ask us to wait," we foolishly prayed. And we wait. Not because God is not aware of our need but because He is the One who holds our answers. Cooper's parents requested a meeting with the doctors today. It was scheduled for 3. It was cancelled. Rescheduled for tomorrow. Can the trachea be fixed?...tomorrow...will we know tomorrow?...God knows today. Cooper is His today, yesterday, and tomorrow. Sometimes I think I am so "good" to trust God with our boy; but I am learning that it is God who has entrusted us to look after his little boy,Cooper.
I have a lullabye I sing to Cooper: "Today" by John Denver. Some of the lyrics are "Today is my moment; Today is my treasure, and I'll laugh and I'll cry and I'll sing." If you get a chance listen to the simple song about enjoying what we are given today. Today we have Cooper and I rejoice! GrandmaRie

Trachea surgery complications

Cooper was taken into surgery early this morning. There was an opening in the surgeon's schedule. While attempting to trach him, a soft area in his trachea was ruptured. They have placed a balloon and a vent tube in and administered paralytic drugs. A Dr. Jagar has been called in. It may be a long as three days before a repair can be attempted. Brooks is traveling to Emily.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day! Our "tiny man" has been awake and trying hard to communicate with us the last few days. He is still on the vent and very tired of having that tube down his throat! Monday and Tuesday he was responsive to touch and voice and he was able to open both eyes! (Did I tell you they are beautiful? Just like his mommy's eyes!)

After much deliberation it has been concluded that a trach is the next best bet at helping Cooper be able to wake up completely and get back to the business of being a baby. He has not had a lot of oppurtunity to be a baby but he is really good at it! The surgery is scheduled for Tuesday Feb 20. Of course, schedule is a very foreign word. Please pray that it might be sooner so he will have less frustration to deal with.

Emily ("Mommy") is doing well under the stress of decisions and separation from Brooks (husband and "Daddy") as he is here in Knoxville area working and managing the "home front." Please say a special prayer for Brooks as his Great-uncle "Hack" who has been a father figure to Brooks is having serious heart problems.

I met "our" Dr. Markert on this visit and she is remarkable. I am so grateful to God for her knowledge and faith. As well as her genuine love for the DeGeorge babies who come under her care.

Please watch the blog and WATE Channel 6 for information in the next few days on a Benefit Breakfast on March 3 from 7am to 11 am at First Baptist Church of Concord. (This is in the Farragut Community.) Cooper's Great-great Aunt Grace Hartzog and Great Aunt Nancy Sartin are doing a blessed thing in support of the Ogle Family! We are so blessed to have such a God-loving family and extended community! All proceeds will go to the Cooper Ogle Medical Fund!

And on this day of romantic love, I am moved by the love and support you all have shown for this precious little family. Gratefully, Cooper's "GrandmaRie" (Donna)

Difficult night at the PICU

Please pray, Cooper was fine last night preparing to go to a "Step-Down Unit" but around midnight he had one of the unexplained "episodes" he is back on the vent and his blood gases are very low. A team is meeting right (10:30am) now to determine what is going on. Ask for God's hand of guidance! donna.

"Have you been Cooperized?"

"Good Morning Everyone!" -- Little Coop

Here I am breathing on my own! I woke up for awhile and was suprised to see my Daddy; who held me and made me feel safe. I coughed a lot and smiled really big to let him and Mommie know that I am alright! I am going to rest alot this week because I hope to be in my own room next week where I can cuddle with Mommie all I want!! Dr. Markert told Mommie she was amazed at how alert I am. Love to you all, Little Coop

OFF the VENT! Breathing for dear life!

He is still quite fragile but we are thanking God that Cooper is breathing on his own. He still has oxygen support but he is off the ventilator! He is beginning to wake up just in time for his Daddy to visit for the weekend! Still trusting in the One who love the little children!

Rescheduling of Cooper Ogle's Story on WATE 6

I was traveling back from Duke Hospital today anticipating watching the TIVOed interview with Emily and seeing our tiny man and did not get the message until late in the evening that the airing on Cooper's story has been rescheduled. I am sorry for the confusion. You really can see him on WATE 6 (Knoxville) 5 o'clock News on FRIDAY. Again thanks for your love, support and prayers....Donna

WATCH ME ON WATE TODAY!!!!

Watch for Mommie and Daddy and Me on WATE channel 6 (Knoxville) FIVE oclock news with Kristin Farley! Wednesday Jan 31.

Heart/Vascular Surgery Report

Hello all my friends and family,

Today was a precious day. It started very early with visits from Mommie, Daddy, Nana Ogle, Aunt "Larry" and GrandmaRie. I was happy to hold hands, kick and get kisses. My mommie's smells so good and I love her kisses. And my Daddy is my best buddy!

Then I got really sleepy and someone took me to surgery. The Doctor removed the vascular ring that was closing my bronchial tube and trachea. He also patched the two holes in my heart.
He told my family that it went well but that I need to rest for a few days before he wants me to try breathing with out the ventilator. He said it may take several attempts over time before my bronchial tube is ready to do the job without assistance and that we should be patient.

Please pray that the bronchial tube cartilige will grow strong quickly...the sooner it is working well the sooner I can come off the ventilator and start the thymus and parathyroid transplants. Boy, I am so busy! Mommie and I are "booked" for the the next 6 months to a year! Then I can come home to you all. I will show you how well I can jump and play then!

Love and kisses, "Little Coop"

Getting Ready for Surgery

Cooper will have surgery Monday morning. They (doctors) are not promising it will get him off the ventilator. (God is bigger than our fears.) They will remove the vascular ring from his Bronchial tube and trachea and repair the holes in his heart. This will prevent congestive heart failure but there is still a problem with the cartilage that should support the bronchial tube. We need for it to grow before he can come off the ventilator. Please pray specifically that the bronchial tube and trachea will heal quickly so that he can breathe on his own. I am specifically concerned about his development if the vent is used too long. He has such a bright personality but has been sedated for almost 2 weeks now; and we miss interacting with him.

Surgery postponed until next week

Hi Everyone,
I am back in Seymour; Brooks and his mom and brother are traveling home today. Emily remains with Cooper and will be joined by her sister Laura for a few days. Cooper has developed pneumonia therefore surgery has been postponed until next week. Please pray for a rapid and complete recovery. I thank God for His care and for all of you. Donna

Update from Duke

Hello everyone.
Cooper did fine on the transfer to Duke Medical Center. He is stable and the calcium issues are being addressed so he appears to be less fragile. Today has been very busy with various tests of his unusual and severely complicated vascular system. This is expected with DiGeorge Syndrome. Surgery has been delayed for a few days so that the team can be as educated as possible on Cooper. In honor of our tiny man when things are complicated our family has coined a new phrase...cooperized. This is definitely a situation that has been "cooperized." Good thing God knows "Little Coop" and can not be confounded by any complications....GrandmaRie...(donna)

"Leaving on a Jet Plane Don't Know When I'll Be Back Again"

Hello everyone! It is an exciting day for me. I am holding tight to my little lamb cause I am a little scared. I am flying on a plane today. I have only ridden in a car a few times so planes are a whole new thing! The staff at Children's have spent days preparing me for a safe trip and the staff at Duke have been learning all about me. So everyone is ready. I will have surgery either today or tomorrow. I have been very tired but I will feel better after the surgery. I will be able to breathe so much better than I ever have. I am still counting on you all to pray to me and I have been told I am like my little lamb and that you are all holding me tight in your prayers. Thanks. I really can't wait to get well and get to know all of you! Love "Little Coop"

Sat. Jan 13

Cooper's condition continues to be fragile. He is currently dependant on the ventilator where previously the vent was a "security-blanket" against the airway constrictions. The jet will pick him up tomorrow in the early afternoon. Brooks and Emily will travel by car early in the day to be there when he arrives. I plan to meet them there later in the day. Reports are conflicting as to how soon the surgery to remove the vascular ring that obstructs his airway and repair his heart will be; Sunday , Monday or Tuesday. Please pray for ASAP because he is so very tired and so very fragile. Still standing on the One Who Loves the Little Children.

January 9, 2007

We never cease to be amazed and confounded by the value of Cooper's life. The fact that he has been able to compensate for the airway restrictions all this time (4 months) is truly a testimony to the marvel of his will to live. Tonight he is on the ventilator breathing better than he has been able to before. He is getting some very well deserved rest before his next big struggle. Today's scan revealed the cause of the bronchial tube restriction; a vascular ring squeezing the pathway shut. Children's Hospital has appealed to Duke's cardiologist and vascular surgeons to plan and carryout surgical intervention. It has also been proposed that the hole in the heart be addressed at the same time. Please pray that the teams can work together quickly to transfer Cooper to Duke and proceed with these procedures. As always the ventilator is a risk in itself. Cooper needs your loving prayers to surround him. I am grateful that we have been able to count on each of you. Please pray that Cooper will continue to be a testimony to the fact that "Jesus loves the little children....they are precious in His sight."

Monday Jan 8, 2007 10:37 pm

Well there is good news and not so good news... However I trust the One Who is the Good News to guide Cooper (and all of us through).

Good News.... Cooper's echocardiogram shows marked improvement of the 4 major defects in this heart's anatomy. The cardiologist has reported that his heart has been growing and changing in great and unexpected ways.The prospect of any need for surgical intervention is greatly reduced! ( remember we trust the One Who is the Good News!)

The not so good news... a scope was done of his airways to determine why he stops breathing and then his (recently much more healthy) heart stops beating has provided some challenging answers.

1) The small jaw line caused by Cooper's syndrome caused this tongue to completely close this throat. The surgeon offered no known treatment other than ventilation or a tracheotomy. He successfully and with much difficult placed Cooper on a ventilator.

2)The scope also revealed that Cooper's left bronchial tube is nearly completely closed. C-scans will be preformed soon to attempt to determine specific cause (other than the generalized knowledge that it is syndrome related).

( Remember we trust the One Who is the Good News!) Donna

Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007 about 9 a.m.
Cooper's nurse reports he has coded again. Dr.'s Prinz and Andrews were on site and after 4 minutes of compressions and "bagging" he responded and is currently breathing on his own. Ventilator is not an option due to malformation of the throat and bronchial tubes caused by the DiGeorge Syndrome. We need a medical miracle and we need it now. Standing in the valley with your prayer support. Waiting for God....

Friday Jan 5 8PM
Emily made a call to Duke University to make sure that Dr. Markert is aware of Cooper's struggle with his vitals this past week; she was not aware of it. Dr. Markert is now conferring with staff at Duke and at Children's to see if we can have Cooper moved sooner. (early next week-- God willing!) We are hoping they can go ahead and repair his heart while we are waiting for the FDA to approve the Thymus/Parathyroid transplant. We believe his "episodes" are due to calcium levels getting too low for his weakened heart. What we need you to do is pray for God to guide this process and get Cooper the help he needs before his little heart just quits. The fact that Dr. Markert is even available is miraculous...keep praying! Thanks! Cooper's GrandmaRie (donna)

Thursday Jan 4, 2007 10:46
We have had a difficult few days...Cooper appears to have a virus. (Bacterial cultures are negative and we are waiting on a flu/viral swab results.) (Reported Negatiave on Friday) He has been feeling really bad for 3 days. Today he dropped his heart rate and went blue again. It took the team about 15 minutes to bring his vitals back to a "normal" level. Please keep his name before the Lord. Emily and Brooks too. I will be spending the afternoon with him. Thanks Donna