Pope Leo XIV has officially confirmed the first miracle of his papacy: the revival of a newborn, Tyquan Hall, in Rhode Island, whose heart had stopped for over an hour. The event occurred in 2007 at the now-closed Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket. Delivered via emergency C-section, Tyquan showed no signs of life despite extensive resuscitation attempts. Attending physician Dr. Juan Sánchez-Esteban, originally from Spain, had pronounced the child dead and turned to prayer in desperation.

Dr. Sánchez-Esteban prayed to Father Salvador Valera Parra, a 19th-century Spanish priest known for his work during a cholera epidemic but never previously credited with a miracle. Moments after the doctor’s quiet invocation, a nurse rushed to inform him that Tyquan had suddenly resumed breathing and his heartbeat had returned. The recovery was immediate and complete, without the neurological damage typically expected after such a long period without oxygen.

Medical and church authorities have confirmed that Tyquan went on to develop normally, defying all odds. The Diocese of Providence and the Diocese of Almería jointly investigated the case, ultimately concluding that the child’s recovery was medically inexplicable and spiritually significant.

On July 18, the Vatican formally recognized the incident as a verified miracle, the first ever acknowledged in Rhode Island. This recognition brings Father Valera Parra one step closer to sainthood, as Catholic canonization typically requires two confirmed miracles.

Dr. Sánchez-Esteban, while limited by privacy laws, acknowledged the event’s deep impact, calling it a reminder of both life’s fragility and the enduring hope found in faith and prayer.