Meet Reagan, the Face of a Modern-Day Miracle
Seth and Kata DeLoach had no way of knowing that a trip to the pediatrician for their daughter would turn their world upside down.
As featured on Walmart Today | The offical blog of Walmart.com
After noting some concerns about the development of then 2-month-old Reagan’s head, the pediatrician directed Seth and Kata to a neurosurgeon at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis – a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. It was there that a neurosurgeon was able to diagnose Reagan with craniosynostosis, a condition where joints in the brain begin to close prematurely before fully formed.
When the DeLoach family received the news, Seth was working at a Walmart store in Indiana. He recalls with gratitude the blessings of prayer and support from his manager and fellow associates during the two-month wait until Reagan was old enough to undergo surgery.
The day of the procedure, Seth and Kata waited for two hours at Riley Hospital while a nurse updated them every 30 minutes on their daughter’s progress — a seemingly small act that will be remembered by the couple for years to come. Three days after Reagan’s surgery, the family was finally able to return home.
Today, Reagan is a happy, healthy 2-year-old. Since the DeLoach family’s incredible medical journey, they have been wholeheartedly giving back. Seth, now a co-manager at a Walmart supercenter in Owensboro, Kentucky, shared his daughter’s story with his employees, and the team rallied around Reagan.
“In the past, I would always give money when asked,” Seth said. “But after Reagan’s experience, it really hit home. I had been personally affected and was so grateful for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and Riley Hospital for Children.”
Seth’s efforts have been instrumental in the Owensboro store’s fundraising campaigns for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. This year, they were able to surpass their fundraising goal and raise more than $8,000 for Children’s Miracle Network hospitals.
Reagan may be young, but her story – and those of many children like her – continues to inspire many to believe in the power of a miracle.
