Christmas Eve is a time of joy, celebration, and togetherness. It’s a time meant for creating memories, sharing laughter, and soaking in the magic of the season. But for the families of Brooke Patton and Cooper Elsik, Christmas Eve of 2025 will forever be marked by a tragic loss that no one could have ever imagined.
Brooke, 17, and Cooper, 18, were just beginning to build a future together. They were high school sweethearts, full of dreams and excitement for what lay ahead. On that fateful night, they were on their way to Santa’s Wonderland in College Station, a place filled with holiday lights, joy, and festive cheer. They were looking forward to spending the evening together, sharing the kind of carefree moments that young love brings. But what should have been a night of happiness quickly turned into heartbreak.
The car crash that took their lives shattered not only their families but an entire community. Friends, classmates, and all who knew them are struggling to process the unimaginable. How do you begin to make sense of the loss of two young lives with so much potential, so much ahead of them?
Brooke had graduated high school early, a sign of her dedication and determination. She had already begun working and had big plans for the future. Her ambition and drive were clear, and she was excited about what was to come. But now, the world will never see what she could have accomplished.
Cooper, too, had a bright future ahead. He had already endured heartbreak in his young life, having lost his mother to COVID. Despite this, Cooper was a beloved figure at the car wash he worked at in Round Rock, known for his kindness and work ethic. He found a sense of comfort and healing in his relationship with Brooke, a relationship that was built on friendship, trust, and love. They were each other’s solace, each other’s safe place, and together, they were ready to face whatever came next.
But life has a way of taking the unexpected turn, and the love they shared was stolen far too soon. Now, their families are left to cope with a grief that no parent should ever have to endure. The ache of losing a child is something that can never be fully understood unless you have experienced it yourself. And for these two families, the pain is indescribable.
Brooke and Cooper’s love for each other was something special. They had been friends before becoming a couple, and together, they found joy and healing in each other’s company. Their bond was built on trust, shared dreams, and the kind of connection that most people search a lifetime for. They were each other’s support, each other’s cheerleader, and in the short time they had together, they made each other’s lives better. Their love was pure, honest, and full of promise.
Now, as the families of Brooke and Cooper navigate their grief, they are also trying to find a way to honor their children’s memory. They are heartbroken, but they also know that the love Brooke and Cooper shared should never be forgotten. Their story is a reminder of how fragile life can be, how precious every moment is, and how important it is to hold onto the ones we love.
As the community mourns, it is important to remember the lives of Brooke and Cooper — not just the tragedy, but the love, the joy, and the hope that they brought to those around them. Though their time together was cut short, their love will continue to live on in the hearts of those who knew them. They were young, but they left an indelible mark on the world — one that will not fade with time.
In times like these, we are reminded of the importance of family, of love, and of supporting each other through the darkest of times. The loss of Brooke and Cooper is a reminder of how precious life is and how quickly it can change. Their families now have the difficult task of learning to navigate life without them, but they are not alone. They are surrounded by friends, family, and a community that is grieving with them, holding them up during the hardest time of their lives.
Please, take a moment to send your love, prayers, and condolences to the families of Brooke and Cooper. They are in need of strength, comfort, and support as they navigate this unimaginable loss. Let’s honor the memory of two young lives lost too soon by offering them our love and compassion. And let’s take a moment to remind ourselves of the importance of cherishing the people we love, because tomorrow is never promised.
Brooke and Cooper’s love story may have been brief, but it was filled with meaning. Their bond will continue to inspire all who knew them. Let’s make sure their love is never forgotten, and let’s continue to hold their families in our hearts as they heal from this devastating loss.
Angelina, Our Angel: Defying the Odds with Love, Hope, and Determination 661
When I first learned I was pregnant with our daughter, Angelina, it felt like our family was finally complete. After suffering four miscarriages, we were overjoyed when our son Aydan arrived a year earlier, and now, at 34 weeks pregnant, we were expecting our second child, a little girl. My husband Charles and I couldn’t wait to welcome her into our lives. But during a routine ultrasound, our world was turned upside down.
The sonographer, after performing the scan, excused herself from the room, returning with a senior technician. The tension in the room was palpable, and I could sense that something was terribly wrong. The technician looked at the screen, her face growing serious as she turned to us.
“Your child is missing part of her brain, the corpus callosum,” she said softly, explaining that this condition, called agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC), was a rare congenital disorder. It meant that the area of the brain connecting the two cerebral hemispheres was absent. The doctors told us our daughter would likely never walk, talk, or communicate.
Devastated by the news, Charles and I were left speechless. That night, I did my best to research the condition, trying to grasp what this meant for our future. I found that while ACC had no cure, early intervention therapy had proven successful for some children, and there was still hope.
The following day, we went in for an MRI to confirm the diagnosis, and it also revealed that Angelina had fluid on her brain, further complicating the situation. The doctor explained that the fluid would need to be drained in the womb to get a clearer picture of what they were dealing with. After the procedure, we were given a heartbreaking choice: we could terminate the pregnancy, as the prognosis was grim.
But as I felt Angelina’s little feet kicking inside me, I knew that I couldn’t give up on her. “I couldn’t save our babies when their hearts stopped beating before, but now I have a choice,” I said to Charles, determined to give our girl every possible chance to survive.
Angelina was born in February 2016, and when she first arrived, the room was silent. I panicked, asking, “Is she breathing?” But just as fear began to creep in, she let out a cry. The relief was overwhelming. I held her tiny hand, feeling the strong grip she had, and in that moment, I knew she was a fighter.
We named her Angelina, after both my grandmother and Charles’ mother, a name that meant “angel” in Italian, perfectly suited for our little warrior.
However, the challenges continued. In the following weeks, we discovered that Angelina also had microcephaly, meaning her head was smaller than expected for her age. The doctors said that despite the intense therapies, it was likely Angelina’s condition would never improve and that she might not have any quality of life.
But we didn’t let this stop us. We sought out another neurologist in the United States, who suggested genetic testing. The results showed a mutation in Angelina’s CASK gene, which affected her brain development. Though the diagnosis didn’t change, it opened the door for additional treatments, including intensive therapies. Angelina’s memory was affected, and the neurologist recommended five hours of therapy each day, including physiotherapy, speech therapy, and music therapy, to help her develop and learn basic tasks.
By the time she was two years old, Angelina could say “Mum,” “Dad,” “Nanna,” and “Nonno.” At three-and-a-half, she took her first steps. Watching her place one foot in front of the other, I was overwhelmed with pride. She was defying the odds, and each milestone felt like a victory.
Now at four years old, Angelina is a joyful, determined little girl. Thanks to ongoing therapy, and her love for playing with her big brother Aydan, she has learned 75 different words, including “drink,” “bowl,” and “plate.” She is even close to saying, “I love you.” Angelina loves to dance to music, and her favorite entertainer is Emma Wiggle. Her big, warm smile is enough to brighten anyone’s day.
Despite the challenges, Charles and I are incredibly proud of our little girl. She has taught us to appreciate the small things in life, and every day she defies the doctors who told us she wouldn’t improve. We’ve also started the Angelina CASK Neurological Research Foundation to raise awareness and fund research into this rare condition, hoping that one day there will be a cure.
While some days are harder than others, and there are moments when I feel sadness for what Angelina has to fight for, her strength and determination are truly inspiring. She is our angel, showing us that love, hope, and faith can overcome even the most difficult challenges.
Angelina’s journey is a reminder that science is not always black and white. Sometimes, choosing hope and love is the best medicine, and that is exactly what we are doing for her.
