Tamiracle Estes wasn’t expected to survive more than an hour after birth, but she defied the odds, and a kidney transplant has kept her alive.
By Maureen Gilmer, Riley Children’s Health senior writer, mgilmer1@iuhealth.org
For Tiffany Estes, Mother’s Day in 2009 was a miracle. That’s the day she and her husband, James, were blessed with their miracle baby, whom they aptly named Tamiracle.
Tamiracle Estes just celebrated her 16th birthday with a huge party last weekend. Pretty wild, considering she wasn’t expected to survive more than an hour after birth at IU Health University Hospital. She was immediately transferred to the NICU at Riley Hospital for Children.
But Tiffany and James never gave up on their baby girl, even when she was born with no kidneys, a hole in her heart and serious urological issues that would eventually require reconstructive surgery by Riley urologists Dr. Richard Rink and Dr. Kirstan Meldrum.
“The first time I looked at her, I was just amazed,” Tiffany said. “I was blown away at being trusted with this itty-bitty person with all these really big challenges.”
Tamiracle was put on dialysis just after birth and stayed in the NICU for about a month before going home with her parents, who were trained to dialyze her at home. She eventually had to come to Riley several days a week for dialysis.
At age 3, Tamiracle received a kidney transplant, with IU Health transplant surgeon Dr. William Goggins doing what he does best. He connected with the toddler then, and the relationship has only strengthened.
Dr. Goggins even attended his star patient’s birthday party last weekend. The bond the two share is special, Tiffany said.
“I think they connected because she can feel genuine love and concern from him. He’s more than a doctor. God has blessed him with an amazing gift and an amazing heart. He feels like family.”
Tiffany didn’t even think she could get pregnant before finding out she was carrying Tamiracle. That was after she took no fewer than seven home pregnancy tests, refusing to believe the results. But the pregnancy was challenging. Doctors at another hospital did not think the baby was viable. James was the one who suggested they wait it out and pray for the best, Tiffany said.
“One reason was because she had a perfect, strong heartbeat. All you need is one sign,” she said. “That kept me going, and we just prayed that whole pregnancy. But we were prepared to say our goodbyes. I had bought a dress to bury her in, we got a handprint mold and a bear with her recorded heartbeat.”
But things worked out in the most wonderful way. Tamiracle needed plenty of care, yet she thrived, and Tiffany went on to deliver three more healthy children, now ages 14, 11 and 10.
Sadly, James Estes passed away from COVID complications four years ago, so Tiffany has been raising the children on her own, with plenty of support.
“I have a village here at Riley,” she said. “Everybody here has been amazing. They check on us, make sure we don’t need anything.”
She also is grateful for her family and her church.
“Everyone pitches in to help.”
Today, Tamiracle is a sophomore at Tri-West High School in Lizton, Indiana, where she participates in winter guard and choir. She also assists with a class of elementary school students as part of a program designed to help prepare her for the day when she hopes to become a teacher herself.
She enjoys arts and crafts, loves shopping, coloring (you can never have too many coloring books, she says) and hanging out with friends, but her best week of the year is coming up at the end of this month when she goes away for five days to Kidney Camp in Brookston, Indiana.
Tamiracle has been going to kidney camp for half her life, but it was only last year that she was able to ride the zipline for the first time. She can’t wait to do that again, she said, even though she is afraid of heights.
August will mark 13 years with the donor kidney that has kept her alive all this time. Doctors initially thought she might get 10 years with that kidney, but it’s still holding up.
“She will need another transplant, but we’re trying to hold onto this one for as long as we can,” her mom said.
It still amazes Tiffany that her now-16-year-old daughter is sitting with her today – in the place where she has spent so much time. She continues to be seen in Riley’s transplant clinic and in urology.
“We are celebrating 16 years of life when I was told we would have maybe an hour of life together. I hope our story inspires and gives hope to those dealing with impossible challenges.”
Photos submitted and by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org
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