Lauren and Juan Castro believe their 8-year-old daughter Valery is a living miracle. She was born with tufting enteropathy, a rare disease that typically leads to irreversible intestinal failure. As an infant, the disease caused Valery to not gain any weight and to have constant diarrhea. When her parents first learned about their child’s disease, they were devastated and afraid.
“Valery’s condition is not very common. At first, the doctors could not figure out what was wrong with her,” Lauren remembered. “The disease presents many challenges in terms of quality of life.”
After months of searching for care in Venezuela, Colombia, and the United States, the Castros were running out of hope. That’s when their research brought them to Salah Foundation Children’s Hospital Debora Duro, M.D., who specializes in Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition. She is also the Program Director of the Florida Intestinal Rehabilitation, Support and Treatment Program.
Dr. Duro has extensive experience in treating pediatric patients suffering from intestinal failure. Her use of intestinal rehabilitation and parenteral nutrition is designed to improve the lives of patients like Valery. “My goal is to improve the quality of life for our patients by avoiding intestinal transplant and to grow the intestine back, which we call intestinal rehabilitation,” said Dr. Duro.
Valery now has a better quality of life thanks to Dr. Duro’s Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) and Enteral Nutrition treatment. The Castros have been impressed with Dr. Duro and her team, and are grateful that she came into their lives.
“Dr. Duro has been a blessing to our family,” Laura said. “Today at age 8, Valery’s results are impressive. She is a happy and healthy child with a great quality of life, thanks to Dr. Duro’s care and expertise.”