Children's Miracle Network Meet Our Children's Miracle Network Champion

Marina is a member of the rare disease club. She was born with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD), a rare and life-threatening genetic condition, that impacts one in 25,000 children.

Six weeks before she was due to be born, Marina faced an unexpected complication and doctors began to suspect she might have a severe form of ARPKD. Ten days later, on July 14, 2015, Marina was born prematurely at 34 weeks at Texas Children’s Hospital. The hospital quickly became a home away from home for Marina and her parents, Monica and Mario Guerrero. 

Before her birth, doctors determined that Marina would face significant health challenges, and her chances of survival were almost zero.

Marina was resuscitated at birth and spent the first seven months of her life in the NICU. She was then transferred to the transplant inpatient floor, where her parents received extensive training to administer peritoneal dialysis at home. After nearly nine months in the hospital, Marina finally came home for the very first time. 

At age 2, Marina developed peritonitis, which required her to transition from peritoneal dialysis to hemodialysis.

By age 3, she had already spent more than half her life in the hospital, enduring multiple surgeries, including the removal of both kidneys and dialysis treatments. She had battled ongoing blood pressure complications, suffered a stroke, and faced countless other medical challenges.

Marina remained on hemodialysis until 2018, when she received a life-saving kidney transplant from a living donor, her father, Mario. Though the transplant was a turning point, it was not a cure. Marina continued to face complications, including a severe case of kidney rejection, multiple urinary tract infections, and ultimately reimplantation surgery just before her first transplant anniversary.

By age 8, she had undergone over 25 surgical procedures and benefited from seven years of occupational therapy and nine years of physical therapy to support her developmental progress. Throughout her journey, a dedicated team at Texas Children’s has remained by her side and supported her family.

Today, Marina continues to beat the odds and thrive on her kidney journey. She navigates life with courage and strength, joining her fifth-grade class in 2025. For the Guerrero family, Texas Children’s is more than a medical center; it is a place of healing and hope and truly their second home.