The story of Jessica
Baby Jessica was born October 26, 1983 at Denver General Hospital in Denver, Colorado. Jessica was born 3 months premature weighing one pound, 7 ounces. The Rocky Mountain News crowned her the “Miracle Baby of Colorado”. Everything was developed except her lungs. She was born with a collapsed left lung in which she was diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension Disease. PH is a type of high blood pressure that affects the arteries, lungs, and heart. Baby Jessica lived at Denver General Hospital until she was 2 years old. Doctors approached parents Eric & Debra after many complications with a life changing decision. The air in Colorado is too thin due to the elevation, and the cold weather could effect her, so doctors told them to give baby Jessica a shot at a normal life, they would have to move to the Bay Area, CA. The family was notiified in July 1986 and relocated to the Bay Area, September 1986. Imagine it this way having a paper or plastic bag over your head and trying to breathe, that is what it’s like for her. Her lungs are basically like swiss cheese. In 1986 Eric, Debra and oldest daughter Erica left behind their hometown, friends, family, and moved to the SF Bay Area, California. It was a hearthache being away from their biggest supporters but the Del Toro’s kept their faith strong.