A Happy Child: Gloria's Journey of Hope and Healing at Oklahoma Children's Hospital

When Gloria was born on a snowy January day in 2022, her parents had no idea of the medical challenges that lay ahead. They didn’t even know her gender until her birth, but what was supposed to be a routine delivery in Weatherford, Oklahoma, quickly turned into an emergency helicopter flight to Oklahoma Children's Hospital OU Health.

"She was actually a gender surprise," Gloria's mother, Yesenia Soto, said. "We were certainly not aware of her heart condition or anything."

Gloria was diagnosed with Down syndrome and a complex heart defect called complete atrioventricular (AV) canal defect. Pediatric internal medicine physician Dr. Catherine Mims, M.D., explains that her condition means she has a pretty sizable hole between all four chambers of her heart.

What followed was an intense 2 1/2 month stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital. During this time, Gloria's care team worked tirelessly to stabilize her and prepare her for the major heart surgery she would need. At just 5 months old, Gloria underwent open heart surgery to repair the AV canal defect.

“It was scary,” said Yesenia. "After that, she’s actually gotten a whole lot better. About two months later, Gloria was able to come off oxygen support entirely.”

But Gloria's journey was far from over. In addition to her heart condition, she faced challenges including hydronephrosis (fluid backup in the kidneys), congenital hypothyroidism, and feeding difficulties that required the placement of a gastrostomy tube (G-tube).

To address these complex medical needs, Gloria sees a wide array of specialists at Oklahoma Children's Hospital, including cardiology, hematology, endocrinology, neurosurgery, genetics, neurology, gastroenterology, ophthalmology and speech and physical therapy. This comprehensive, coordinated care is what sets Oklahoma Children's Hospital apart, Dr. Mims said.

"In Oklahoma, this is the only place she can get all this care in a single spot," she said.

For families like Gloria's, having all these specialists under one roof is invaluable. The family travels 50-60 minutes from Hinton to Oklahoma Children’s Hospital multiple times a month for Gloria's appointments.

"We have pediatricians who are particularly skilled in taking care of kids with a wide variety of medical needs,” said Dr. Mims. “This is kind of our bread and butter here."

The close collaboration between specialists is another key advantage, Dr. Mims added, saying she consults with colleagues often so Gloria can receive the care she needs the next day, as opposed to waiting through the referral process.

Today, as Gloria approaches her third birthday, her progress is remarkable.

"She is doing extremely well," Dr. Mims said. "She's off oxygen, and she doesn't require a tracheostomy. She currently does not walk, but sits and crawls really, really well."

Gloria's vibrant personality shines through despite her medical challenges. Her mother describes her as "a very happy soul. She's very silly." Gloria loves music and dancing and has a knack for charming everyone she meets.

"She loves people," her mother said. "In the grocery store, she sees somebody, and she tries to get their attention."

Both Dr. Mims and Gloria's mother emphasize the critical role that family support plays in cases like Gloria's. Yesenia has learned to administer medicines, the G-tube her daughter needs, and other medical care.

"Her mom in particular does this with such grace and is so invested," Dr. Mims said. "We really could not have succeeded as physicians without her having a mom who's just so dedicated."

Gloria's mother, in turn, expresses deep gratitude for the care and education provided by Oklahoma Children's Hospital. The hospital goes beyond just medical care, too.

“They set us up with the Ronald McDonald House, and that was really helpful," she said.

As Gloria continues to grow and reach new milestones, her family looks forward to "hopefully less hospital visits." But they know that whatever challenges lie ahead, they have a dedicated team of experts at Oklahoma Children's Hospital ready to support them every step of the way.

"Seeing the success in these patients who had a very tough start is what brings us joy," said Dr. Mims.

For families facing complex pediatric medical conditions, Gloria's story reflects how Oklahoma Children's Hospital not only offers world-class medical expertise, but a compassionate community dedicated to helping every child thrive.

Learn more about comprehensive, multidisciplinary care at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital or speak to an expert by calling (405) 271-KIDS.