2010 Miracle Child Robert Salcido
Champions Across America, presented by Walmart and Sam’s Club, designates a Children’s Miracle Network Champion child in every state who has endured severe medical challenges by bravely battling a serious injury or illness. Sixteen-year-old El Pasoan Roberto Salcido was named the 2010 Texas Children’s Miracle Network Champion. The first and only time child from El Paso who has been named for this state-wide honor.
In many ways, Roberto Salcido is a typical 16-year-old. He loves sporting events, video games, talking on the phone with friends, riding bikes and motorcycles. But despite being a teenager in years, Roberto has the body of a 10-year-old boy stemming from a number of birth defects collectively known as Vaters syndrome. At birth, he had only one lung, and his esophagus and stomach were not connected. Years ago, Roberto’s condition was not treatable, and the survival rate was zero.
Like many El Paso children, Roberto and his family have endured the hardship of many many trips out of town for his care and aftercare. Roberto lives in El Paso but received his care from Christus Santa Rosa in San Antonio. Children’s Miracle Network funds supported the Titanium Rib Program pioneered at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital. Roberto has been through 18 Titanium Rib procedures specifically developed for children with congenital rib cage deformities and thoracic insufficiency syndrome which allows the artificial chest to grow along with the child. Roberto gets through his challenges with extraordinary faith. When asked by a TV station what he would say to other children going through similar difficulties, Roberto said to tell them to pray for strength and courage. This seems to be the motto by which Roberto lives: No matter what struggles may come, never lose faith.
As part of Champions Across America, the Champions traveled for a week – first to Florida to meet Children’s Miracle Network sponsors, hospital and media partners who convened to celebrate a year of medical miracles during the Children’s Miracle Network Celebration event at Walt Disney World Resort. The group then traveled to Washington, D.C., where the Champions met with their state senators on Capitol Hill, and the newly inaugurated President of the United States, Barack Obama, during a visit to the White House.