From Campus to Classroom: Stories That Shape Education
For three years, Liam Lara has had a one-on-one nurse to help with his rare congenital condition. But his mom says CFISD recently told her that would change.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — A Houston-area mom says Cy-Fair ISD has reconsidered its decision to deny a one-on-one nurse for her son, who has a rare congenital condition.
For the last three years, Liam Lara has had a nurse. But Jessica Galvan said a staff member recently told her that a nurse wouldn’t be provided next school year at Rowe Middle School.
Liam was born with congenital agnathia with aglossia and otocephaly, and he doesn’t have a lower jaw. The eleven-year-old has required attentive care throughout his life.
“[Doctors] said that his airways collapse, so he needs a trach tube to breathe, and he needs a G tube to eat,” Galvan explained to KHOU 11 on Wednesday.
We reached out to CyFair ISD on Wednesday, but they didn’t respond to our questions, citing privacy laws.
On Thursday, Galvan learned that the district had changed course, and Liam will get a nurse after all. The news brought tears of relief.
“I am feeling great. I, uh, actually, when she called me, I couldn’t help but to cry because I, you know, felt validated, right?” Galvan told KHOU 11 anchor Len Cannon. “You know, when you’re advocating for your child, you almost feel a little gaslit in a way, right, when somebody’s telling you like, ‘He’s not sick enough’ and you’re like, ‘How are you gonna tell me, right? Like I live this every day. I live the reality of it.”
Galvan learned that Liam’s pulmonologist had contacted the district on their behalf to confirm that he does indeed require lifesaving care. She said she’d given them a letter from the doctor earlier that said the same thing.
“Yes, so I’m gonna assume she just needed to hear it from him,” Galvan said.
She said there was apparently some confusion over how long Liam could survive without the one-on-one care.
“I’ve been on the phone with Texas Children’s all day, and we’re just trying to clear that up and fix that because they were like, that’s not true. He doesn’t have 5 minutes.”
She doesn’t regret fighting for her son.
“You don’t just put a special needs child to the corner and say, you know, ‘Just do homeschool,’ you know, that’s not holding anybody accountable for being [able to] access public school safely.”
Galvan said Liam, who she describes as a loveable kid with a big personality, is excited about middle school next fall and plans to be in the band.
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