Logan’s Journey: A Mother’s Strength and a Miracle of Grace

When Julia first learned she was pregnant with her son, Logan, she never could have imagined the journey that awaited her. At 15 weeks, she fell severely ill, spiking high fevers and developing sepsis. Though doctors couldn’t pinpoint the cause, Julia sensed something wasn’t right.

At 33 weeks, she was rushed into an emergency C-section due to preeclampsia. Logan arrived early but strong, breathing and eating on his own. His platelets were slightly low at birth, but doctors assured Julia it was nothing to worry about.

However, just a few weeks later, Julia began noticing bruises on her tiny son’s body. First one on his leg, then another on his stomach. Concerned, she pushed for answers. Multiple blood draws failed; samples kept clotting. Finally, she was referred to Texas Children’s Hospital, where doctors discovered Logan’s platelets were dangerously low, less than 20,000. He needed an immediate transfusion.

After rounds of testing, Julia received the diagnosis no mother ever expects: Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome (WAS), a rare, one-in-a-million genetic disorder that weakens the immune system and causes severe bleeding and bruising. “I had never even heard of it before,” Julia recalled. “They told me only a mother can pass it on through the X chromosome, but when I was tested, I came back negative. It was a spontaneous genetic mutation. I was in shock.”

Logan was referred to the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at Texas Children’s, under the care of the extraordinary Dr. Martinez. “She was such a comfort,” Julia said. “Even when she wasn’t on duty, she came to check on us. We cried together. She made me feel like I wasn’t alone.”

Logan received his bone marrow transplant on September 17, 2021, a day Julia now calls his “new birthday.”

But the journey was far from easy. Julia had to leave her teenage daughter, Natalie, at home. “It was the first time we didn’t spend our birthdays together,” she said softly. “I didn’t want to leave the hospital and risk exposing anyone to illness. It was hard just FaceTiming her.”

At the same time, Julia faced personal struggles at home. She had to stop working to care for Logan, and financial pressures grew heavy. That’s when His Grace Foundation stepped in.

“His Grace Foundation helped pay our rent when we didn’t know how we’d make it,” Julia shared. “They brought a Welcome Basket filled with thoughtful items that we never would’ve thought to pack, but everything came in handy. It meant one less thing to worry about during an impossible time.”

Now, Logan is four years old, thriving, and full of joy. He loves school, playgrounds, and playing with his little brother, Luke. “He’s a happy child,” Julia says with pride. “He’s strong and full of life. When I see him now, I know every tear, every long night, every prayer was worth it.”

Julia is also expecting her third baby. “We just learned this baby may have a mild neurological condition,” she shared, “but because of what we’ve already overcome, I know we’ll be okay. I have faith, the same faith that carried us through Logan’s journey.”

When asked what she would say to His Grace Foundation donors, Julia didn’t hesitate:

“You may not realize how much your gift means until you’ve been there yourself. Even the smallest donation gives a family like mine peace of mind in the hardest moments. If you could see Logan now, you’d know you made a difference. You helped make this miracle possible.”