Miracle Child Introduced

TYLER — The child who will light downtown Tyler’s Christmas tree this year has been introduced. Officials with the Children’s Miracle Network and Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics yesterday presented one-year-old Daniela Guzzetta. Daniela was born early via an urgent caesarean section. Preliminary fetal echocardiogram testing before her birth indicated that Daniela could have Down syndrome. Her parents, Joe and Carolina, carefully prepared for her arrival. According to her father, “It was the longest twenty minutes of my life,” as he awaited news from the operating room of Daniela’s safe delivery.

Daniela spent 19 days in the Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Mother Frances Hospital. Shortly after discharge from the NICU, Daniela developed fever and was not eating well. On the recommendation of TeleCARE Plus, the free 24-hour health information service provided by Trinity Mother Frances, the family took Daniela to the Emergency Care Center for evaluation. Daniela was diagnosed with viral meningitis and was admitted to the Children’s Center at Mother Frances Hospital. Following her recovery and return home, she developed an upper respiratory infection that also required hospitalization.

Daniela became a patient of the Trinity Pediatrics Special Needs Clinic early on, a program made possible by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Dr. Rick Rogers, Chief of Pediatrics for Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics, is the Guzzetta’s family pediatrician. According to Dr. Rogers, “Daniela is a true miracle in every sense of the word. She has overcome great obstacles in her short life.” Now a happy, thriving one-year-old, Daniela makes The Special Needs Clinic her medical home, receiving her care close to home so that her family can enjoy life to its fullest, according to officials. She’ll light the tree Thursday evening on Tyler’s downtown square.