Rosalba Hernandez Lopez shares a powerful bond with her clinician, Dr. Lisa Moore.

Their connection, built over the course of Rosalba’s pregnancy, would become a vital lifeline after her son Brian was born showing signs of an extremely rare genetic condition that threatened to drastically affect his health.

For two weeks, doctors observed Brian in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). As Brian lay in an incubator, Rosalba was caught up in a medical whirlwind. She did her best to understand what the pediatric endocrinologists, cardiologists and other specialists were explaining; but without a translator present, she often left the appointments frightened and confused.

As Brian’s team ran tests and got a clearer picture of his condition, Rosalba learned her son could suffer from a range of complications, including serious cardiovascular disease, total hearing loss and an increased risk of developing certain cancers. Doctors warned of future surgeries and a long, complex road to recovery—all before Brian was even a week old.

Shocked by Brian’s diagnosis and reeling from the strain of being separated from her newborn, Rosalba found herself facing a rapidly growing depression that threatened to overwhelm her. As doctors prepared to release Brian from the NICU, Rosalba was terrified to handle her son’s care alone.

Facing the Unknown Together

Because of his condition, Brian’s muscles weren’t developing fast enough for him to feed independently, so he couldn’t breastfeed or bottle-feed. Doctors had inserted a flexible tube through Brian’s nose into his stomach to deliver formula so he would get the nutrients he needed to grow. Although she knew the tube was necessary, Rosalba was scared her son was in pain and constantly worried about him being hungry.

In desperate need of support, she placed her faith in Dr. Moore, who sprang into action recognizing the urgency of both Brian’s needs and Rosalba’s stress. They met weekly, so that Dr. Moore could closely monitor Brian’s weight, carefully adjust his feeding plan and track his progress toward key developmental milestones.
“Rosalba was frightened, but her commitment to helping Brian was inspiring,” Dr. Moore remembers. “She was ready to fight for him, and that made all the difference.”
Throughout the process, Dr. Moore kept her eye on the big picture. “My job as Brian’s doctor is to understand the big picture – to see the connections between various aspects of his health over time and across different needs,” Dr. Moore says. “This allows me to make decisions that address both his immediate needs and his long-term development.”Dr. Moore guided his care at critical moments. When an external feeding specialist mistakenly assessed Brian’s weight gain as normal—putting him at risk of malnutrition and threatening his brain development, immune health and overall growth—Dr. Moore intervened. She implemented a hybrid feeding plan that incorporated a highly calorically dense formula, a decision that ultimately prevented serious damage to Brian’s health.

A Turning Point

Rosalba gained confidence as Brian began to gain strength. Together, she and Dr. Moore discussed every detail of the enormous amount of information coming from Brian’s eight specialists. Dr. Moore helped Rosalba prepare questions for Brian’s other doctors and developed strategies to help her feel empowered when dealing with busy specialists. Dr. Moore’s dedication showed Rosalba she had an ally.

“Dr. Moore made me feel safe,” Rosalba recalls. “She helped me feel strong again.”

That strength was soon rewarded. At just under one month old, Brian defied expectations and gained enough weight for his feeding tube to be removed early. The moment marked a turning point for Rosalba. For the first time since Brian’s birth, she felt empowered and hopeful. It wasn’t just a medical milestone—it was proof that her devotion and Dr. Moore’s expert care was making a real difference in Brian’s life.

Now at ten months old, Brian is now able to sit up on his own, play with his toys and cuddle with his mother. His social and cognitive development are excellent and he is responding well to visual cues—an important milestone for children at risk of auditory impairment. As Brian continues to gain weight, Rosalba is excited to introduce solid foods into his diet.

“I believe a lot of his progress is because of Rosalba,” Dr. Moore says. “She’s an incredibly attentive, dedicated mother. I have complete faith that she can handle whatever comes next.”

Brighter Days Ahead

Today, Rosalba is energized and empowered. The anxiety that plagued the first months of Brian’s life is rapidly improving as she tackles challenges head-on.
Now, she confidently requests a translator for all of Brian’s appointments and feels prepared to advocate on her son’s behalf. She collaborates with the Clinic’s health insurance enrollment department to ensure her family has access to nutritious food through CalFresh. And she actively cares for her mental health and her bond with Brian by working with our infant mental health program.

Looking ahead, Rosalba is filled with hope for Brian’s future. “I’m beyond grateful to Dr. Moore and the Clinic for helping me find hope again,” she says. “I want my son to have a full and independent life. With Venice Family Clinic behind us, I believe he can do it.”