Meet Victor, who smiled through many months in the hospital
Thanks to his parents, sisters and compassionate care team at Children’s Health℠, Victor has a bright future.
Victor’s parents, Melissa and Victor Sr., knew their son would be born missing a heart valve and with a rare combination of heart defects called tetralogy of Fallot. They also knew he would need to be transferred to the Children’s Health Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CICU) for heart surgery shortly after his delivery.
Although they knew what to expect and had made meticulous plans, things didn’t go as anticipated.
“He was born purple,” his mom, Melissa, said. “He wasn’t breathing and they intubated him immediately. The care team feared he wouldn’t make the transfer to Children’s Health, so he went straight to the NICU at the hospital where I gave birth. They planned the transfer for the next day, but prepared us for the reality that he may not make it through the night.”
That was the first of many nights when the odds were against baby Victor. But he pulled through and was successfully transferred to Children’s Health the next day.
In the days that followed, physicians discovered one of Victor’s lungs was small and underdeveloped. Genetic testing revealed an underlying genetic condition called 22q deletion syndrome, or DiGeorge Syndrome, which can cause abnormalities with the heart and lungs.
“We’d never experienced anything like this,” Melissa said. “As a mom, I just kept telling myself that he was going to be OK, that we’re going to go home. But when he was born and I saw how sick he was, my mind went numb.”
The beginning of a long care journey
Victor needed a ventilator to help him breathe, and he had his first open heart surgery at just 10 days old. He would ultimately spend the next seven months in the hospital.
“Seeing him attached to so many machines was shocking and scary,” Melissa said. “He looked so fragile. I was scared to even hold his hand.”
The weeks leading up to Christmas felt the most isolating. While friends and family were embracing the holiday spirit, Melissa, Victor Sr. and their daughters, Isabella and Sophia, were at the hospital. They leaned on each other and baby Victor’s expert care team.
The nurses and providers became like family to us. Especially nurses Summer and Emma because they provided so much care not only for my son but for my daughters. Because of them, my girls don’t think of the CICU as a scary place. They think of it as the place where they met nice nurses who gave them coloring books and goody bags.
— Melissa, Victor's mom
Christmas and birthday parties at the hospital
The family spent Victor’s first Christmas, Isabella’s 8th birthday and Sophia’s 5th birthday at the hospital. The experience has given the girls the maturity and compassion that comes from having a loved one face a serious medical issue. They've also learned a lot more about health care than most kids their age. Isabella has taken a special interest in Victor’s care and says she wants to be a nurse when she grows up — at Children’s Health.
Her dream is especially exciting as Children’s Health embarks on its latest venture: a new Dallas pediatric campus.
A joint investment with UT Southwestern Medical Center, the new campus will serve as a collaborative center for innovation, academic research, training and the advancement of lifesaving technologies to make life better for children for generations to come.
“I fully believe she will achieve her dream,” Melissa said. “Many people look at Victor and see all of the tubes and care he needs, but my girls just see the brother they love so much. They’re outgoing and tell people all about Victor. I hope one day that they do go into the medical field or continue to be advocates for kids with special needs.”
At 7 months old, Victor got to go home for the first time. But he was right back in the hospital less than 24 hours later because of pneumonia.
During those long days in the hospital, they would always look forward to visits from music therapist Lauren, who helped them write a special song about Victor. And anytime Victor was back in the hospital, it wasn’t long before Child Life Specialist Jenna showed up with a hanging mobile and balloons — two things that always made Victor smile.
Incredible moments like these at Children’s Health are made possible thanks to philanthropic funds that are hard at work behind the scenes. Whether powering our people and programs, both inside the hospital and within our communities, or furthering our ability to make breakthroughs happen, these extraordinary stories would not be possible without the generous support of our donors.
When Victor’s second Christmas rolled around, his parents were deeply grateful for the people who made their time at the hospital feel like a true holiday.
This has been the hardest thing we’ve ever had to live through. Support services truly change the way kids live during a long hospital stay. It made the experience so much better, not only for Victor but also for my girls. It takes a huge weight off our backs as parents. Words can’t describe our gratitude.
— Melissa, Victor's mom
Living under one roof
After spending nearly 17 months in the hospital, Victor was finally well enough to go home. Day by day, Victor is catching up on his milestones, like sitting up and rolling over.
He’s a happy baby who is always laughing with his sisters. He’s taught his family to appreciate the simple things, like finally being under one roof and going to church, where Victor finally met the community that has prayed for him his whole life. Victor also became a big brother after his family welcomed his new baby sister, Amelia.
While Victor is doing well, he’ll need to receive care for the rest of his life. He still needs help from a machine to breathe. But the tubes and wires no longer scare his family — they simply call the medical equipment, “Victor’s accessories."
They also know that the Children’s Health team, full of expertise and compassion, is never far away. And soon, Children’s Health will have a new campus, offering expert care to more families in North Texas and beyond.
“Just knowing the new campus will be there, with more beds and more providers offering various therapies gives us peace of mind,” Melissa said. “As a parent of a kid with long-term, complex medical needs, we know that we’ll be able to get the care Victor needs.”
That scope, breadth and quality of care will help Victor and other children live their best lives.
“Victor has been through the unimaginable and yet he’s such a smiley, bubbly boy,” Melissa said. “I hope that one day I get to see him playing with other kids and going to school. I know he’s capable of so much and I just can’t wait to see him bloom.”
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