Doctor breaks silence on Pope Leo’s miracle baby
Pope Leo XIV has officially acknowledged the first miracle of his papacy: the revival of a newborn named Tyquan Hall in Rhode Island, whose heart had ceased functioning for over an hour. This event took place in 2007 at the now-defunct Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket. Delivered through an emergency C-section, Tyquan exhibited no signs of life despite extensive resuscitation efforts. The attending physician, Dr. Juan Sánchez-Esteban, who hails from Spain, had declared the child deceased and turned to prayer in a moment of desperation.
Dr. Sánchez-Esteban prayed to Father Salvador Valera Parra, a 19th-century Spanish priest recognized for his contributions during a cholera epidemic, although he had never been previously credited with a miracle. Shortly after the doctor’s quiet supplication, a nurse hurried to inform him that Tyquan had unexpectedly begun to breathe again and his heartbeat had returned. The recovery was both immediate and complete, without the neurological damage that is typically anticipated after such an extended period without oxygen.
Medical and ecclesiastical authorities have confirmed that Tyquan subsequently developed normally, defying all expectations. The Diocese of Providence and the Diocese of Almería conducted a joint investigation into the case, ultimately determining that the child’s recovery was both medically inexplicable and spiritually significant.
On July 18, the Vatican officially recognized the incident as a verified miracle, marking the first such acknowledgment in Rhode Island. This recognition brings Father Valera Parra one step closer to sainthood, as the Catholic canonization process generally requires two confirmed miracles.
Dr. Sánchez-Esteban, while constrained by privacy regulations, acknowledged the profound impact of the event, describing it as a reminder of both the fragility of life and the enduring hope found in faith and prayer.
