Pope Leo XIV has confirmed the first miracle of his papacy—the revival of a newborn in Rhode Island whose heart had stopped beating.
The miracle occurred on January 14, 2007, at the now-closed Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket. Baby Tyquan Hall was born via emergency C-section, deprived of oxygen and declared dead after nearly an hour of failed resuscitation.
Dr. Juan Sánchez-Esteban, the attending physician, prayed to 19th-century Spanish priest Salvador Valera Parra, saying, “Fr. Valera, I’ve done everything I can. Now it’s your turn.” Moments later, Tyquan’s heart began to beat, and he made a full recovery—without the developmental damage doctors expected.
Valera Parra, known for his care during a cholera outbreak in Andalusia, had never been credited with a miracle—until now. This Vatican-confirmed miracle advances his path to sainthood; one more is needed.
Rev. Timothy Reilly of the Diocese of Providence, who helped investigate the case, called it “wonderful news,” and said the event shows “God is indeed close to us.”
Dr. Sánchez-Esteban, without confirming specifics due to privacy laws, acknowledged the recognition as a powerful reminder of life’s fragility, resilience, and the impact of faith.