Meet Dallas: a relentless spirit and a strong heart

Three serious heart conditions brought his family from El Paso to Dallas, his namesake city, where his mother credits Children’s Health with saving his life.

Shortly before giving birth, a physician in El Paso diagnosed Brenda’s baby with three different heart conditions.  

For a pregnant mom, these were big and scary names: Ebstein’s anomaly, a very rare heart condition; Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a heart rhythm disorder; and tachycardia, a condition where the heart beats abnormally fast.  

The physician suggested she move her family to Dallas, where she could access a higher level of care at Children's Health℠.  He also warned her, however, there was a good chance the baby would be stillborn. 

As Brenda walked out of the clinic that day, she crumbled onto the floor and wept. 

“All I could think is how I would never meet my child,” she said. 

The next day, her mom noticed Brenda was walking differently. She wasn’t in pain, but decided to visit the emergency room, just in case.  

At the hospital, a nurse began checking her baby’s vitals when her face turned pale. Before Brenda could even ask, the nurse sprinted out of the room and, within seconds, she returned with a team of physicians and more nurses.  

The baby’s heartbeat was concerningly high, so physicians needed to perform an emergency C-section. 

The next few hours were a blur as Brenda faded in and out of consciousness. After giving birth, she recalls waking up to her sister asking someone about travel arrangements. The baby, along with his aunt, would be flown from El Paso to Dallas — his namesake city — to get him to Children’s Health. 

Brenda didn’t know what was going on, but she remembers saying, “I haven’t seen my son. Can I get my son?” 

But she couldn’t hold him. Dallas’ heart rate was so high, physicians worried his organs would start shutting down at any moment. The 6-pound baby was covered in tubes, surrounded by a cluster of beeping and humming machines. 

Because she had given birth by C-section, Brenda couldn’t fly and had to stay behind. But her sister, insisting Brenda needed to at least touch her son, made arrangements for them to meet before they left. 

“We kind of met in a hospital hallway, and I saw the pilot who would take them,” she recalled. 

While she recovered, Brenda’s sister experienced the brunt of the baby’s health scares. She was there as baby Dallas endured multiple heart attacks and saw him swell up and turn purple. 

After what felt like the longest week, Brenda packed up her things and flew to Dallas. She was finally with her son. 

“He was a big baby, but when I got there, he looked so tiny,” she said. “He was where he needed to be.” 

Dallas and his mother spent about a month and a half in the city to be close to Children’s Health, where his care team helped him become stronger before going back home to El Paso. Before their departure, Dallas’ care team ensured Brenda felt prepared to take care of him at home. 

“That gave me the confidence I needed,” she said. “His care team was so great. It was like getting a crash course.” 

Dallas’ fighting spirit 

Born a fighter, Dallas never let his heart conditions hold him back from living fully.  

“We made him do what normal kids do,” Brenda, his mom, said. “Children’s Health physicians told me to not keep him in a bubble, to not allow him to be afraid of living.” 

With the support of his care team members and family, Dallas learned how to listen to his body. After running around and playing with his cousins for a few minutes, for example, he knew when to stop for a break.  

At first, Dallas visited Children’s Health every month, traveling back and forth from El Paso. As he grew older, his family was able to spread out their visits to every couple of months.  

His care team also supported his mom throughout their journey at Children’s Health. 

“Since day one, they’ve held my hand when I needed it,” Brenda said. “They adore my son, and I say that sincerely because I can feel and see it.” 

Growing up with frequent visits to the hospital, Dallas experienced many blood draws, catheterization and IV insertions. At Children’s Health, Child Life specialists and therapy dogs stood by him for support each time, providing comfort and distractions. 

Child Life services — which make life easier for kids and families experiencing the unthinkable — are offered to families free of charge at Children’s Health and rely on philanthropic support from generous donors.  

“I tell them and our nurses and physicians all the time, ‘You all have truly become a part of our extended family,’” Brenda said. 

Time for a new heart 

As time went on, Brenda began noticing the decline of Dallas’ strength. While walking home from his grandmother’s house one day, a quick 5-minute walk, he had to stop and take several breaks. 

When he made it home, he collapsed on the tile floor. 

“Mom, I just need to rest,” he said. “The tile feels nice and cool.”  

At a follow-up, Brenda shared her concerns with his physician, who said it was time to move him up to the highest priority on the heart transplant waiting list. Although she always knew this day would come, she felt overwhelmed by the news. 

Their home was in El Paso and, as a single mom, Brenda wasn’t sure of where’d they stay as they waited in Dallas for the looming transplant. She also worried about expenses. 

Without skipping a beat, social workers at Children’s Health connected the family with an organization that provides temporary housing assistance. 

“Being a single mom is scary when you know nothing other than home,” Brenda said. “I didn’t have much to fall back on, but the hospital opened its arms to us.” 

The family also felt embraced by the North Texas community through the contributions of generous donors, who help support so many of the offerings at Children’s Health, including social work to help families with resources such as counseling and financial assistance while a child is in the hospital and school services to keep patients on-track with their education while undergoing treatment. 

“Experiencing the impact of donations felt like somebody had wrapped up their heart and given it to us,” Brenda said. “Donations help remind children and families at the hospital that they’re not alone. They provide a gleam of sunshine in their day.” 

After waiting for what felt like the longest month ever, Dallas received his new heart at Children’s Health in November of 2023.  

Dallas — who shocked his physicians with how quickly he recovered after his heart transplant — is now thriving back in El Paso, participating in more sports with friends, practicing on his guitar and cracking jokes with his family. 

When running around with his cousins, the now-12-year-old no longer needs to take frequent breaks.  

“We are so grateful. Because of Children’s Health, its physicians, nurses and other care team members my son is healthy, and my family is happy,” Brenda said. “Dallas has always been a fighter.” 

​Meet more Children's Health patients 

Read more patient stories like Dallas's and meet our Patient Ambassadors to learn how Children's Health makes life better for children. 

How you can help 

Help kids like Dallas by exploring our ways to give or by giving today!