At just 20 weeks into her pregnancy, Briyitte and her husband, Daniel, were given heartbreaking news: their unborn son had spina bifida, a condition where the neural tube doesn’t close completely, leaving the spine and nerves exposed. In their case, in-utero surgery was not an option. With a long medical road ahead, the family made the decision to travel over 500 miles from Midland to Houston for specialized care.
Briyitte, Daniel, and their 5-year-old daughter Kamila, arrived at Holcombe House in early November. “I was expecting it to be like an apartment, where we’d be on our own,” Daniel said. “But it’s actually like a real home, a community. When you’re going through something hard, you feel like you are the only one — but here, we knew we weren’t alone.”
When Daniel needed to return to work, Briyitte’s mother, and her younger brother also joined the family to offer support.
Daniel Jr. was born on December 9. The very next day, he underwent surgery to insert a shunt and close the opening in his spine. What followed was months of setbacks for little Daniel – time on a CPAP machine, a serious infection from his back surgery that took three months to clear, and concerns from doctors about why he wasn’t breathing on his own. He received a tracheostomy to help him breathe and a g-tube for nutrition. Nearly 12 weeks after birth, his parents were finally able to hold him for the very first time.
Through all the medical complexities, the long nights at the hospital and the emotional toll, the family found a source of comfort – the 3rd floor art studio at Holcombe House. Signing up for creative sessions with Ms. Diana, 5-year-old Kamila found a safe space to process her feelings. Art became the language that allowed her to express what words couldn’t. But it wasn’t just for the kids — the adults in the family also found peace through sculpting, painting, and creating.
“For us, the art room has been a way to clear our minds,” Briyitte said. “It gave us joy during the hardest days and peace when everything else felt uncertain.”
For more than 5 months, the family lived at Holcombe House as Daniel Jr. made his slow but sure recovery at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital. From educational activities like Lemonade Day and Science Fair, to the safe haven of the art studio, RMHC Greater Houston provided activities and spaces for all members of the family to bond and heal so they could be strong for Daniel Jr. and for each other.