Doctor responsible for Pope Leo's first miracle breaks silence after saving premature baby with prayer
The premature child was born in 2007 and wasn't expected to survive
Pope Leo has officially declared his first miracle as pope.
Pope Leo is the successor of Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88 in April following a string of health issues.
Pope Leo was announced as the new head of the Catholic Church soon after, making history as the first ever American to be voted in as pope.
Now the newly elected Pope, who was voted in by the papal conclave on May 8, has announced his first miracle.
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Popes do this as part of the process of canonizing saints. In this case, it's Father Salvador Valera Parra, who lived in Spain from 1816 to 1889, that has been attributed to a miracle in 2007.
What was the miracle?
The miracle is about Tyquan Hall, who was born premature at Rhode Island Memorial Hospital in Providence, US.
The tiny baby was said to barely have a pulse when he was born meaning the odds were stacked against him in terms of survival.
Neonatal recovery protocols were carried out, but an hour later, baby Tyguan was still in a bad way. His heart reportedly stopped at one point.
Physician Dr. Juan Sanchez-Esteban was one of the medics to be caring for Tyguan. Knowing that their medical interventions weren't helping the child, he turned to divine intervention instead.
Dr Sanchez-Esteban prayed to 19th century Father Valera Parra and reportedly said (via Mail Online): "Fr. Valera, I have done everything I can. Now it's your turn."
Tyquan went on to make a miraculous recovery shortly after, but he was expected to face other issues as he grew older because of severe lack of oxygen in his first hours of his life.
No such thing happened, however, and the young boy grew up healthy and happy.
What has Dr. Sanchez-Esteban said?
In light of Pope Leo declaring the 2007 ordeal as a miracle, Dr. Sanchez-Esteban has released a statement.
It read: "As a physician, I have the privilege of witnessing both the fragility and the incredible resilience of life.
"While I cannot speak about any individual patient due to HIPAA privacy laws, I understand that a recent recognition by the Vatican has brought comfort and meaning to many.
"At Care New England and Women & Infants Hospital, we are honored to be part of the stories that inspire hope and we remain committed to providing care grounded in compassion, excellence, and respect for every individual and their beliefs."
Topics: Pope Leo, Catholic Church, Religion, US News
Niamh Shackleton