When Rai was born, her parents immediately noticed something was wrong. Rai was born with facial deformities and a notch in her right eyelid, and she was having trouble eating and breathing. By the time she was 11 months old, her condition had worsened. Her parents brought her to CHRISTUS Children’s, where a CT scan revealed Rai had a complex vascular ring constricting her esophagus and trachea, explaining her troubles with eating and breathing. Doctors also discovered she has Goldenhar Syndrome, which caused her craniofacial abnormalities. Using innovative techniques and equipment, her medical team conducted a successful effective yet minimally invasive surgery. After the procedure, she received close monitoring in the pediatric intensive care unit to ensure a smooth recovery. Rai has shown remarkable progress and is a lively and vibrant child. She will receive cosmetic surgery for her facial abnormalities once she turns two or three years old. Looking back on their time with CHRISTUS Children’s, Rai’s parents are extremely grateful for the supportive medical team and the incredible care she received.