Diana Parra’s pregnancy with Abram was a difficult one. After a routine ultrasound at 21 weeks, Dr. Yeomans, Texas Tech Physicians Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist at UMC, informed her the baby had gastroschisis. This is a condition where the bowel and small intestines are outside the abdomen wall. At week 32, Diana began experiencing contractions, and Dr. Yeomans induced labor the following day.

Diana gave birth to Abram on February 9, 2019. His parents got to see him briefly before he was taken to surgery to correct the gastroschisis. After surgery, Abram was in the UMC NICU for 95 days—he went home on May 15. However, after three days he began vomiting.

Abram’s parents rushed him to the UMC Emergency Center where he soon stopped breathing. Emergency staff acted quickly and resuscitated him. He remained in the Pediatric ICU at UMC Children’s Hospital for 21 days under the care of Dr. Thivakorn Kasemsri, Dr. “Tiva,” Pediatric Critical Care specialist, and had to have four additional surgeries. 

He has undergone 7 surgeries in his lifetime, but Abram is a happy, healthy 1-year-old. He is crawling, sitting and showing signs of wanting to walk! His parents carefully monitor his diet to keep his digestive system healthy.

In the summer of 2017, Addyson Newberry began experiencing pain in her right hip. By November, the pain worsened and her mom, Kyra, an NICU nurse at UMC, contacted Dr. Michel Diab, pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon.

Dr. Diab diagnosed Addyson with hip dysplasia. Because the surgery to address the issue was a major one, surgery wasn’t performed until June 2018. It was an 8-hour surgery in which the right hip had to be broken down in order to be rebuilt. Addyson was in the hospital for one week, and out of competitive cheer—her passion—for 12 weeks. This excited the Newberrys as she originally was supposed to be out of cheer for 3-6 months.

She has now had surgery on her left hip, as well as the screws removed from her right hip. She will need surgery to remove the screws from her left hip in coming months, but, for now, she is glad to be going into her senior year able to continue participating in competitive cheer and begin tumbling again!

On October 23, 2019, Bethany’s teacher took her, and 3 other children, to pick up a book. During the trip, a driver did not see a stop sign and broad-sided the large SUV Bethany and the others were in. Bethany was riding in the 3^rd row and was wearing her seatbelt, but she still suffered extensive injuries. 

Bethany was airlifted to UMC Children’s Hospital from Hobbs, New Mexico. It was determined she suffered an atlanto-occipital dislocation (internal decapitation). While in the Pediatric ICU, she was given medication to keep her from having seizures. 

On October 28, Dr. Laszlo Nagy, Texas Tech Physician’s Pediatric Neurosurgeon, performed surgery on her broken neck. Dr. Thomas McGill, Pediatric Surgeon, removed a rib from under her shoulder blade, and Dr. Nagy was able to fuse the gap between her skull and spine. She was in the hospital for 23 days before spending 46 days at an inpatient rehabilitation center.

Bethany went back to school in January 2020 and is close to being back to herself! She continues to have speech, occupational and physical therapy.

In May of 2017, when she was just 5 years old, Elizeth suffered a stroke that was thought to be cause by an autoimmune disorder affecting the liver. She stayed at the UMC Children’s Hospital for two weeks and continued in speech, physical and occupational therapy after.

Elizeth was routinely monitored under the care of Dr. Mohamad Al-Rahawan in the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic in the UMC Cancer Center. Then in May 2019, she began vomiting, experiencing diarrhea and bruising. Blood work revealed she had Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Her treatment plan consisted of chemotherapy Monday-Friday for 8 months. While in treatment Elizeth had the privilege of performing in an abbreviated version of the Nutcracker with Ballet Lubbock students at the Pediatric Cancer Christmas Party.

She completed her treatment in January of 2020 and rang the bell to celebrate! She continues to be monitored through monthly visits to the UMC Cancer Center. She is excited to be a 3^rd grader at Oak Grove Elementary School in Brownfield.

On May 21, 2020, Julian was critically injured in a boating accident at Lake Nasworthy in San Angelo, Texas. The boat propeller tore through his upper-right leg from his knee up to his abdomen and was exposed to the bone. Julian was taken to the local hospital, where it was quickly determined he needed to be flown to the UMC Level 1 Trauma Center.

The medical crew on the flight did not think Julian would survive the flight, but he did! He was immediately taken to surgery to replace 8 inches of missing femoral artery and spent just over a month at the UMC Children’s Hospital.

Since then, Julian has gone through numerous surgeries—from arterial and nerve implants to exploratory repair to skin grafts and more. He has a long road of therapy and rehabilitation ahead of him, but Julian remains positive. He plans to return to play football his senior year of high school.

In September 2019, Rhue’s parents began to notice significant changes in her behavior—she seemed unsettled and abnormally fussy. By October, the fussing and crying worsened. Rhue’s mom, Alison, took her to the doctor who thought she was just experiencing a bad bout of constipation.

Later that week, Alison and Rhue’s grandfather saw what they thought was a lump in her buttock. This, of course, raised a red flag for Alison, and she took Rhue back to the doctor. An ultrasound, a CAT scan, an MRI and a biopsy were ordered. It was revealed Rhue had a germ cell tumor in her pelvis.

Dr. Thomas McGill, Pediatric Surgeon, performed surgery to remove the tumor November 8, 2019. The tumor was the size of a toy football. On November 14, Rhue began her first of four rounds of chemotherapy with Pediatric Oncologist Dr. Kishor Bhende.

Rhue completed chemo on January 16, 2020, and is in chemical remission. She is back to being a healthy and active 2-year-old!