UPDATE:
Noah is now 18 yo and has recently graduated from high school!! He has now undergone a total of 30 surgeries since his journey started! He continues to live with the same determination and full heart to overcome all obstacles in his path. We are pleased to announce he played football with his 7th grade and 8th grade middle school team, the Pat Neff Texans. He got a lot more playing time than we anticipated. He also participated in the Special Olympics of Texas Track and Field event in May of 2019. He has started his own small business designing stickers, decals, drink koozies, and shirts. He will be adding caps, tote bags, and sweatshirts to his customs as well as tumblers in the near future. We are so very proud of him!!! Please continue to follow and SHARE his story!!!
Noah Garcia is an 11 year old from San Antonio, TX. He was diagnosed with Schizencephaly at 9 months old and has been a patient of Shriner's Hospital for Children - Houston since 2 years of age. Schizencephaly is an extremely rare developmental birth defect characterized by abnormal slits in the cerebral hemispheres of the brain. Babies with clefts in both hemispheres commonly have developmental delays, delays in speech and language skills, and problems with brain-spinal cord communication. His Schizencephaly caused him to have Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy. At 2 years old, he contracted a very rare illness called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome which is basically Acute Kidney Failure. He had to have emergency surgery for peritoneal Diaylsis. He was in ICU at Methodist Children's Hospital - San Antonio for about a month. His family almost lost him. In the midst of all of the overwhelming illness, Noah managed to beat it! His doctors called him a miracle patient. He has very limited use of his right hand and arm. He just underwent his 4th surgery which goes as follows: Femoral Osteotomy, Bilateral Distal Tibial Osteotomies, Bilateral Gastroc Tendon Lengthening, Bilateral Hamstring Tendon Lengthening, Left Quadricep Muscle Transfer to the hamstring. It was a lot, right? Not for Noah! He braved the 5 1/2 hour surgery like a champion! Noah undergoes occupational and physical therapy daily and is enrolled in the school hospital! He is making improvements daily and getting closer and closer towards his goal of one day playing sports again! Noah serves as an inspiration to all. His family, my family, and after reading this, yours, will be BELIEVE in miracles. He is a living example that though times can be incredibly tough, a strong and positive spirit can change not only your outlook, but can also touch the lives of others.
