Mega Doctor News
By Selene Rodriguez
After watching medical specialists care for her young son during a life-threatening crisis, South Texas College student Andrea Flores knew she wanted to follow the same path.
Now, just weeks away from entering the field as a licensed respiratory therapist, Flores hopes to help families facing the same uncertainty she once experienced.
“When you’re a parent and you see your child connected to all these machines, it’s terrifying,” Flores, 28, said. “I was asking a million questions because I didn’t understand what was happening. The respiratory therapists took their time to explain everything and that’s when I knew I wanted to help others the way they helped me.”
Five years ago, Flores’ son was just 3 years old when a virus triggered severe seizures linked to a mitochondrial disorder he was born with. After doctors intubated him at a local hospital, he was flown to Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston for specialized care.
For 21 days, he relied on a ventilator while doctors worked to stabilize his condition. During that time, Flores remained at his bedside, learning about the machines and treatments that were keeping her son alive.
“The seizures wouldn’t stop, so they had to secure his airway and put him on a ventilator,” Flores explained. “At one point, the medical team wanted to do a trach, which is a surgery that places a breathing tube through the neck, but the respiratory therapists spoke up and said he didn’t need it because he was doing well on his breathing trials. I was so grateful my son didn’t have to go through more trauma.”
Doctors used high-dose medications to stop the seizures and stabilize her son’s condition. As he recovered, Flores spent long hours at the hospital researching what her next step in life could be and discovered STC’s Respiratory Therapy program.
“I had been a cosmetologist straight out of high school, focusing on nails, but I walked out of that hospital with a mission,” Flores said. “That experience changed everything for me and my family, and I was ready to enroll in college.”
While taking care of her son, Flores spent two years completing prerequisite coursework before being accepted into the Respiratory Therapy program in 2024.
“I didn’t know how to apply or even how to register for classes,” Flores said. “The advisors helped me step-by-step and showed me exactly what I needed to do.”
Now, while balancing school, motherhood and her son’s therapy sessions, including speech, occupational and physical therapy, she is close to achieving her goal.
“I fell even more in love with the program and the field,” Flores said. “Especially during clinicals because we get to see every part of the hospital. It exposes you to different areas and helps you learn how respiratory therapists care for all kinds of patients.”
Her experience has also come full circle. Last year, Flores completed clinical rotations at South Texas Health System Children’s Hospital, the same hospital where her son was first intubated.
“It’s a surreal experience to be back,” she said. “Sometimes I see the respiratory therapists who were there when my son was being treated and it all feels full circle.”
Looking ahead to graduation, Flores plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree while beginning her career as a respiratory therapist, particularly in pediatrics.
For her, the goal is simple: to offer the same reassurance her family once received during one of the most difficult moments of their lives.
“I know what it feels like to be that parent sitting in the hospital, frightened,” Flores said. “If I can help another family the way they helped me, that’s everything.”
For more information on STC’s Respiratory Therapy program, visit https://www.southtexascollege.edu/academics/respiratory-therapy/ / or call 956-872-3023.
