Students and staff at Garcia Elementary held a parade today to send their best wishes to a 9-year-old student who will be undergoing open heart surgery next week.
Ethan Valdez was diagnosed with geleophysic dysplasia, a skeletal condition that makes him small, and the surgery is critical.
“They said he would only live to two,” says Ethan’s mom, Brittney. “Then they said five, then the said they really don’t know.”
Brittney says she hopes the parade will keep Ethan in high spirits headed into the surgery.
At the parade, Ethan received gifts from both teachers and students as they wished him well and said their goodbyes for the school year.
Brittney says Ethan will be out for the remainder of the year will he recovers.
