In a fight for his life: Cory Garabedian

by Tom Vartabedian

Published: Friday January 06, 2012

Cory Garabedian.

Providence - Cory Garabedian is the type of son any parent would be proud to call their own.

A fine student-athlete, he's been an even better Armenian-American whose heritage never wavered --- not for a moment.

As a member of two champion relay teams at the AYF Olympic Games, Cory represented his Providence Chapter the way a fervent politician stood for a political party. With conviction and plenty of gusto. Best be said, he didn't just fit the mold. He broke it!

Today, the 23-year-old lies in a hospital bed, his fate in God's hands. He suffered serious injuries in a horrific auto accident Christmas Eve morning when his vehicle swerved to avoid another automobile before striking a barrier. Cory was ejected 75 feet from the back seat. The end result has become a living nightmare.

As of this writing, Cory remains critical inside the Intensive Care Unit of Rhode Island Hospital under the care of a doctor named Bella Avanessian, a Russia native and a graduate of nearby Brown University.

Cory had planned to finish his education at Dean College in Franklin, Mass. and play football after distinguishing himself in high school.

Michael Varadian, a highly-regarded Providence mentor, holds a high position with the Rhode Island Department of Health. Varadian contacted the hospital's chief of staff and chief of vascular surgery to watch over Cory.

Numerous surgeries have taken place to address a fractured neck and other in injuries.  A leg was amputated from the knee down.  An induced coma has kept him from feeling the pain. According to reports, his injuries are survivable

Rev. Fr. Shnork Souin of St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Church joins Rev. Archpriest Gomidas Baghsarian of St. Vartanantz Church with regular visits and prayers of healing.

E-mails and Facebook messages continue to arrive from around the country from friends, acquaintances and even total strangers.

The annual AYF Convention wrapped up in Philadelphia with $1,700 being raised for Cory's medical expenses. According to insiders, fines were purposely being imposed to enhance the fund. 

Additional contributions are expected to be raised through raffle proceeds at the Providence AYF Victory Ball the end of January, far surpassing other amounts from the past.               

A special fund has been created to assist with medical and rehabilitation costs. Checks can be made payable to Friends of Cory and sent to Sovereign Bank, attn: Ryan Purcell, 184 Taunton Ave., East Providence, RI 02914.

"Cory could be seen wearing the jerseys of local Armenian teams, including the ACYOA and the AYF," said Steve Elmasian, his advisor-coach. "A whole new world opened up for him and he was taking it all in as fast as he could. Cory's talent for the game was something to behold, whether he was making plays or shooting 3-pointers. He made it look so easy."

Basketball shares the spotlight with his track prowess. He ran the anchor leg on two gold-medal-winning relay teams during the AYF Olympics in New Jersey and Rhode Island.

He played on HMEM teams that traveled to Montreal and Washington, DC.  A trip to Armenia was negated when Cory was called to duty with the Army National Guard after high school. He spent time in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as a military police officer.

"Cory can run like the wind," said Elmasian. "He's a true team player and complements that with a kind, funny, endearing and respectful personality --- a coach's delight. He wears his uniform with pride."

Apart from the Armenian arena, Cory played high school basketball, baseball and football at Central Falls High School, where he was named the Most Valuable Player of the Division 4 Super Bowl a few years ago.

All his AYF and ACYOA friends turned out on a cold and wet day with a large Armenian flag in the stands, leaving him with an indelible impression. Cory later admitted it was all the inspiration he would ever need to help his team to victory.

"I saw my flag and you all made me proud to be an Armenian," he told his admirers.

Meanwhile, an entire Armenian community waits in anxiety for a son to heal from injuries that may have taken a lesser person.

"The power of prayer is what Cory needs now," said Elmasian. "Most people would never have survived the crash this great-grandson of genocide survivors has endured. My guess is that this young man is quite special because he's getting an enormous amount of requests every day to get well. There's a long road ahead for Cory but knowing him, he's up for the challenge. "