The Heart of a Big Brother

What began as a simple childhood game of hide-and-seek quickly turned into a life-changing moment.

When he was just 6 years old, Johnny was running through his grandmother’s house in Panama when he turned and ran straight into a glass door. The impact caused a deep laceration to his right thigh, severely damaging his sciatic nerve. What seemed at first like a simple cut was far more serious, but it wasn’t immediately recognized. Following the accident, Johnny began to lose feeling in his leg, and his family began to seek further care. By then, the complexity of the injury had already set him on a long and uncertain path.

A few years later, Johnny underwent a tendon transfer surgery in his home country, but the outcome fell short. The tendon eventually detached, allowing his foot to curve inward. He relied on a brace to walk and struggled with increasing pain and discomfort. For Johnny and his family, it felt like they were running out of options.

Everything changed when they came to Shriners Children’s Texas, where Johnny’s care team took a more comprehensive approach. His surgeon, Cody Sanderson, M.D., came up with a specific plan for treatment.

“We did serial casting to stretch the foot and then a surgery to realign and rebalance the foot,” Dr. Sanderson said. “He is now walking in an AFO [ankle-foot orthosis] and on the road to recovery. He is a competitive swimmer and he is happy to get back to Panama and keep swimming.”

This treatment plan addressed the root of the problem in a way previous ones had not. For the first time, Johnny began to experience real progress. For his mother, Marlenis, the transformation has been life-changing.

“Shriners Children’s, for me and my family, is everything,” Marlenis said. “We never imagined we would see Johnny’s foot like this again. Here, they made it possible. The love, the care, the professionalism, from every person, has been incredible. Shriners Children’s changed our lives forever.”

Even during his most challenging moments, Johnny stood out, not just for his resilience, but for his heart. Around the hospital, he became known as a “big brother” figure to the younger patients. While recovering in a wheelchair, Johnny could often be seen giving rides to the smaller patients in the halls or the cafeteria, creating an environment of connection. His kindness made a lasting impression on both patient families and the staff.

Today, at 16, Johnny looks forward to returning home to his favorite meals and his hobbies. What began as a simple game of hide-and-seek became a long and difficult journey. But through care expertise and an unshakable optimism, Johnny has reclaimed his own path, and he has brightened the way for others along it.