Natalie Arnold(Damian’s mother):

Damian was born on January 16, 2025. We knew before giving birth to our sweet boy that we would have a long road ahead of us. Around 1-2 months old, Damian was diagnosed with Nemaline Myopathy focused on TPM2 gene, and prune belly syndrome. Damian is the ONLY PERSON IN THE WORLD to be diagnosed with these 2 main diagnosis’. This just made him even extra special. He’s spent a lot of time in the hospital and has only been home for 6 1/2 weeks of his life.

He was in the hospital from birth to 4 months, came home for 3 weeks, then ended up in the hospital for respiratory failure, and we proceeded to moving on to the surgical option of getting him a trach. My husband and I did everything right to keep him healthy, safe, comfortable, and to bring him home. We did all the classes to prepare of for the worst situations possible. We completed all his cares and worked closely with the team at Children’s Dallas and Plano to ensure that we were prepared for anything and everything.

Damian came home from the hospital on October 15th and worked on getting 24/7 in home nursing care for him. He was such a happy, joyful, sassy baby that loved everything and everyone. He loved Mrs. Rachel, Mickey Mouse, and LOVED his galaxy lights in his room. Although he was more complex than anyone understood, he showed none of that. He was so smart and would tell you exactly what he needed when it was needed.

On Monday, November 10th, Dad and I left for work, checked on Damian, Dad gave him kisses, and said our goodbye for the day as this is our routine in the morning. We left Damian with our Monday day nurse. His oxygen/pulse was perfect and he was peacefully sleeping with no issues.

Our nurse called me at 8:55am to let me know that there was an Emergency and I need to come home immediately. Damian went into cardiac arrest and when I got home and EMS was still giving CPR to our sweet, precious baby… After what felt like an eternity and 4 doses of Epinephrine, they got a pulse back. Uncertainties of knowing how long Damian was down under, without proper oxygen to the brain, and still being unresponsive, we were transported to Children’s Plano, then transferred through helicopter to Children’s Dallas. Damian never showed signs of improvement and was declared in having all the signs of brain death..

On November 13, Damian’s heart rate and blood pressure began to spike and the doctors provided us all the options in what may happen over night as we still weren’t able to get the MRI done and being pushed back on the schedule while we were waiting all day for answers.. My husband and I decided that if the doctors truly didn’t think he would make the night, that we would have to call it. At 8:11pm, we had to let our sweet, precious boy go.. With still no answers on why this happened when Damian had no signs of distressed or struggles days prior or even the morning of. Upon initial assessment when being admitted to the hospital, all tests that were done, everything that his labs had shown were all in line with the arrest itself and no signs of any other underlying condition that could’ve led to this event..

Damian was such a special little boy outside of the known medical conditions that made him special. He was so very smart and fought day and night through everything and anything. We gave him the middle name of Kekoa, meaning warrior and fighter, and he truly lived up to his name. All the way to the end.

Kunal Singapura(Damian’s uncle):

We all know the heart of warrior, never stops. In Damian Kekoa Quintero’s honor, we continue his fight. We will fight for justice, fight for awareness, to preserve every way he touched and impacted all those around him and blessed this world. Also to give Damian the best possible honoring and service that he deserves. We ask that whoever this has been passed to, please support and help us in whatever way you possibly can. Anything and everything helps, it all makes an impact and difference; just as Damian Kekoa Quintero did on us and the world we all live in.

We ask that anyone who this has been shared with, help by donating or passing this along please. As Damian’s loved ones, we now have to fight for him. Come together and help with the battle now of paying for funeral and service, not to mention the investigation and legal fees to get the closest bit of justice we can attempt for Damian and his family. So with a heavy heart, Damian’s loved ones ask for your support in any way possible.