Emergency Surgery on a Newborn: Esperanza's NICU Care and Recovery at CHRISTUS Children's
Born on September 5, 2025, Esperanza Luna looked like the picture of health.
But soon, that picture would change.
She had some discoloration on her belly, which raised a red flag for the doctors, so they transferred Esperanza to CHRISTUS Children’s, where she had emergency surgery for a condition known as a perforated rectum,
said Katelyn, Esperanza's mother.
What is a Perforated Rectum in Newborns?
When a baby is born with a perforated rectum, there is a hole or tear in the rectal wall, the final part of the digestive tract. This opening allows stool, bacteria and air to leak into the abdominal cavity, which is a serious complication for newborns because their bodies are still developing and they cannot fight the infection on their own.
Katelyn and her family were confident that Esperanza was in the best hands because just three years earlier, their older daughter had been treated at CHRISTUS Children’s for a rare genetic syndrome.
Although it was a scary situation, it was reassuring that we were going to CHRISTUS Children’s,” said Katelyn. “I knew they would take the best care of Esperanza just as they did my other daughter.
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Pediatric Colorectal Surgery for Perforated Rectum
Dr. Christopher Westgarth-Taylor, a pediatric general and colorectal surgeon at CHRISTUS Children’s, was the surgeon involved in Esperanza’s case, specializing in complex colorectal conditions such as perforated rectum. He performed emergency surgery to repair the tear in Esperanza’s rectum, carefully closing the perforation and addressing contamination in the abdominal cavity to prevent further infection.
Katelyn said Dr. Westgarth-Taylor explained each step of the process in a way her family could understand, helping them feel informed and supported during a critical time.
His calm demeanor gave us a lot of peace and kept us calm in the moment,
said Katelyn.
Esperanza’s surgery was successful, but if they waited any longer, her outlook would have been dire. Without timely surgical intervention, a perforated rectum in a newborn can rapidly become life-threatening.
Dr. Westgarth-Taylor emphasized the urgency of treatment, explaining that surgery is essential not only to repair the perforation, but to stop the spread of infection.
When there is a perforation, bacteria and intestinal contents can leak into the abdominal cavity very quickly,
said Dr. Westgarth-Taylor. Surgery allows us to close the defect, remove contamination, and control the source of infection before it progresses to sepsis or causes further damage to surrounding organs.
NICU Care After Newborn Surgery
Even though Esperanza’s outcome was the best case scenario, she spent an entire month in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at CHRISTUS Children’s. Her extended stay was needed for close monitoring after surgery, including antibiotics due to infection risk from bowel leakage, as well as time for her intestines to recover from shock before she could tolerate feeding by mouth. She also required a surgical drain for several weeks and received nutrition through a feeding tube, along with IV fluids and pain management while she healed.
Family-Centered Care in the NICU
While there, Katelyn recalls the excellent care she received from the entire team, including the nurses.
The entire NICU team was excellent, providing the best care to Esperanza. There was one particular nurse named Madison who checked on us when Esperanza was first admitted; ironically, she was the main nurse for my older daughter,
said Katelyn. She did an outstanding job advocating for both my children.
Fast forward several months later, Esperanza is thriving and meeting all her milestones. Katelyn describes her as a happy, joyful baby. She continues to have routine follow-up appointments every one to two months, and her long-term outlook remains positive.
Thanks to rapid diagnosis, expert surgical intervention, and the attentive support of the NICU team, Esperanza has the chance to grow, thrive and look forward to a bright future.
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The Level IV NICU at CHRISTUS Children's in San Antonio offers advanced care for newborns and their families, especially babies born prematurely or with special medical conditions.
