It is every parent’s worst nightmare to see one of their children suddenly facing a life-threatening illness. My mom always used to tell me that she wished nothing more than to see my siblings and I grow up happy & healthy and to know that we would one day outlive her. That kind of selfless love is par for the course in so many parents who would do anything for the sake of their kid’s well-being.
So when father Audie Atienza saw his own beautiful 9-year-old son tragically thrust into a dire situation resulting from a brain swelling known as encephalitis, he experienced a pain and terror that would shake any parent to their core. Xavier suffered his first seizure suddenly and inexplicably, and after 4 grueling months dealing with symptoms of headaches, fever, and worse, the boy sadly passed away.
Audie described the horrific period in his life while his boy fought for his life in the hospital, “It was the scariest time in my life not knowing why Xavier was sick and not knowing whether he would make it. I remember driving to the hospital the day after he was admitted and receiving the call from your mother that Xavier was having violent seizures. And I remember being stuck in traffic and screaming and praying that I would get to see Xavier and that he would be okay, not knowing what was happening. Even though I was scared, I had to be strong to take care of you and to take care of Xavier.“
