Ulises Ornelas of Garden City, Kansas, is an energetic 10-year-old boy with an outgoing personality whose bright smile lights up the room. He loves eating the ice cream his parents make and sell in their store, learning new things and playing baseball.
Two years ago, life threw a huge curve ball at the young sports fan. His parents, Karina and Rogelio, noticed their son had started walking with a limp. After months of doctor visits and tests, Ulises was diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder—cavernous hemangioma. A tangled mass of blood vessels pressed against the right side of his brain, affecting his muscles and mobility.
On July 19, 2017, surgeons at Via Christi Hospital in Wichita, Kansas, removed the benign tumor. After weeks of healing, Ulises could barely sit up when he arrived at Madonna’s pediatric unit. His infectious smile and positivity quickly won over the staff. Ulises’ summer vacation revolved around specialized therapies—physical, occupational, speech, recreational—and his favorite, aquatic therapy. Teachers in the Therapeutic Learning Center kept Ulises on track with his third grade class. Technology like the ArmeoSpring, an exoskeleton device, boosted his left arm muscle memory thru interactive virtual computer games. The Proprio 5000, a computer controlled, multi-directional balance machine, challenged Ulises’ balance and reactions. An outing to the Lincoln Children’s Museum with his family, including sister, Genesis Alexa, allowed Ulises to test his cognitive skills through the power of play and be a kid again.
Rehab had its special moments. A surprise visit by two Husker baseball players gave Ulises a chance to show off his progress and pitching arm. Another highlight, thanks to generous donors, was cheering on the Husker football team at Memorial Stadium. Ulises had fun transforming a cart into a mobile lemonade stand and peddling the beverage to staff. While fine tuning his endurance and motor skills, the charismatic youngster explained the freewill donations would go to the pediatric unit helping him heal. Nearly two months later, Ulises waved as he walked out the doors to rejoin his family in Kansas. The goodbye was bittersweet. “I don’t want to go,” Ulises said. “I will miss my Madonna family.”
Today Ulises is an active fifth grader who rides his bicycle and dreams of being a police officer. He hopes to work at the family store, serving ice cream with his trademark smile.
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