Piedmont Middle student turns survival into holiday joy

Stacks of boxes and bags filled with dolls, cars, crafts and stuffed animals covered the floor of his mother’s classroom at Piedmont Middle School. Seventh-grader Cole Russell stood among them, imagining the children who would unwrap each gift, children spending the holidays in the hospital, a place he knows well.

Six years ago, Cole was a patient at Hemby Children’s Hospital, where a medical emergency led to a 93-day hospital stay and a stroke. Today, healthy and thriving, he is leading a schoolwide toy drive for the same hospital, bringing hope and cheer to children facing long recoveries.

Born with gastroschisis, a rare condition, Cole underwent multiple surgeries early in life. During his hospitalization in 2019, a stuffed monkey given to him by his brother stayed by his side, offering comfort through procedures and recovery.

“Even now, it’s tattered and worn, but I’ll keep it for years to come. It made me feel safe,” Cole said.

As the holidays approached, Cole shared an idea with his mom, Emily Russell. Instead of the school’s usual seasonal project, he wanted to collect toys for children in the hospital—kids who, like him before, had spent long weeks away from home during treatment.

“He remembered how much those donations meant,” Russell said. “It was completely his idea. He just wanted to help others.”

The response was extraordinary. By the final count, 465 toys were donated. Russell helped organize them by category—dolls, sports, crafts, games and baby toys—so hospital staff could distribute them efficiently.

“That’s 465 kids who are going to be happy,” Cole said.

Since his last surgery, Cole has been cleared by doctors and says he feels better than ever. He plays soccer, competes in another fast-paced sport, and has found his footing at Piedmont Middle after a challenging transition year.

“Staying positive is the most important thing,” he said.

Cole’s mindset was shaped by his time in the hospital, where he formed friendships, experienced loss and learned lessons far beyond his years. One message guided him through the hardest days: “Never give up,” something his father repeated to him while he was hospitalized, advice Cole still tells himself today.

Cole hopes the toy drive will continue as an annual tradition long after he moves on to high school.

“When kids get toys in the hospital, it reminds them they’re not alone,” he said.

From hospital bed to holiday toy drive, Cole’s journey is a story of resilience, hope and the difference one person can make. Once he waited for comfort; now he is the one giving it, showing every child who receives a gift that they, too, can overcome anything.

Learn more about Cole’s earlier journey and how he turned it into a teachable moment for his classmates in Doctor in the Classroom: Student’s Show-and-Tell Takes Learning to a New Level.