Danielle proves doctors, bullies wrong





Danielle Santos

Danielle Santos

High school graduation is a momentous occasion for many. However, for Pleasanton High School graduate Danielle Santos, it will mean even more.

“People see her and they have no idea what she has been through,” said her mother, Carol Santos.

The 18-year old was born to Carol Santos and Danny Santos, at only 26 weeks. She weighed only 1 pound, 15 ounces, at Methodist Hospital in San Antonio. The tiny, premature infant spent three months in the hospital and stayed in neo-natal intensive care.

“Her right lung collapsed,” explained her mom. “She was given a Grade 4 bleed. Usually children with that have cerebral palsy,” said her mother.

Grade 4 is the most serious level assigned to babies who experience bleeding in the brain. Doctors told Carol that Danielle may not be able to walk and talk.

“After she was born, her weight had dropped,” said Carol. “It was a long three months.”

Carol said her daughter was what one would call a “roller-coaster baby.” She would be okay one day and then the next day something would be wrong.

The shy youngster was very attached to her mother. School teachers often told Carol that they enjoyed having Danielle in their class, because of the respect she showed them and because of her positive attitude.

“She made their day. She was full of life,” said her older sister, Stacie (Santos) Talamantez.

During her freshman year of high school, Danielle experienced a lot of bullying. She never confronted the main person who caused her the problems, explained Carol and Stacie.

“I would tell her to stand up, but she’s not that type. It is not in her,” said Carol.

“We were told the school would take care of it, but they never did,” said Carol. “I was at the school a lot. They would tell me they couldn’t do anything because it was hearsay.”

Stacie kept telling her younger sister to confront the bullying and evil text messages, but she did not. So Stacie tried defending Danielle.

Stacie also shared how she often stood up for the disabled, because in the back of her mind she remembered that her sister could have been disabled.

“Everyone has a story,” said Stacie. Girls have no idea about what she has gone through. Her whole freshman year was hell.”

Her sister later added, “It got to the point where she didn’t want to go to school. I would tell Danielle to remember that they are just jealous.”

By the start of Danielle’s sophomore year, Carol warned school officials that next time, she was just going to go straight to the city police.

Things took a turn for the better when Danielle met Ashtian Guerra, a former Pleasanton Cowboy Homecoming Queen.

“She took her under her wing. Ashtian stood up for her,” said Danielle’s mom and sister.

When Danielle decided to run for Pleasanton Cowboy Homecoming Queen the summer before her senior year, her mother encouraged her.

“I don’t ever discourage her from doing anything she wants to do,” said Carol.

Along with being Homecoming Princess, during high school she played the saxophone in the Pleasanton Eagle Band and was an athletic trainer. She also excelled in golf, winning multiple team and individual awards.

Some of her accomplishments included being named to the District 28-3A All District Girls Golf First Team and earning the Pleasanton Express’ Excellence Scholarship Award and Lance Bryan Scholarship.

She will graduate June 1 and plans to go to cosmetology school.

Danielle’s boyfriend, Eric Perez of Poteet, has also helped her come out of her shell.

“He tells her not to care what other people think. He is very outgoing and has been a positive influence,” said Carol.


Danielle Santos and her many medals.

Danielle Santos and her many medals.

 

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *