St. Joseph names 12-year-old boy first ‘Mini Medic’ after end-stage renal failure diagnosis

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – St. Joseph Health College Station Hospital just named its first ‘Mini Medic,’ a pediatric patient in end-stage renal failure.

Jaxon Gonzalez, 12, was named ‘Mini Medic’ after being diagnosed with stage 5 renal failure about a year ago.

In December of 2022, Jaxon first noticed something wasn’t right.

“I used to be able to play as many sports as I wanted. I would usually play three or four sports every year, but now I can barely play one,” said Jaxon.

Emily Garza, Jaxon’s mom, gave KBTX insight into what she was up against as a mother.

“He started throwing up randomly and they were really spaced out, and we kind of thought something wasn’t sitting right,” Garza listed. “He was having nosebleeds, cramping, he couldn’t walk right, he was walking with a limp, and he couldn’t run.”

After testing, doctors diagnosed Jaxon with pediatric end-stage renal failure in May 2023. Because his kidneys don’t function properly, Jaxon is now on peritoneal dialysis 12 hours per day.

“There’s a lot of after-school activities that he doesn’t get to participate in. He doesn’t get to go to all of his sister’s games, he does miss a lot,” shared Garza.

Jaxon’s aunt is an EMS Field Training Officer at St. Joseph Hospital, and when she shared Jaxon’s story, the hospital wanted to help.

As the hospital’s first ‘Mini Medic,’ St. Joseph is giving Jaxon hope as he navigates the diagnosis.

“When we have kids with special needs or rare clinical conditions that most of the world doesn’t understand, if we can give them enthusiasm and optimism and connect them to our program, and then give them a forum to share our story, then we’re going to do it,” director of EMS and Air Med 12, Billy Rice, explained.

Jaxon was recently added to the donor list and is now waiting for kidneys. If anyone is interested or knows someone who wants to donate their kidneys, you can call Children’s Medical Center in Dallas and tell them you want to donate specifically to Jaxon.

To learn more about Jaxon’s story or purchase a t-shirt, see his Facebook Page. You may also see his GoFundMe to make a monetary donation.