LAMESA, TX (KWES) - Lili Gutierrez's family has been through a lot this summer, and it all started with a headache.
On June 15, 9-year-old Lili suffered from an Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) in her brain which hemorrhaged and caused a large clot in the frontal lobe.
"We were told from the beginning children with this condition don't always live and, if they do, are usually recovering for a long time, sometimes with lifelong deficits," said Rachel Strope, Lili's step-mother.
Her condition was so dire that she was intubated and flown from Lamesa to Covenant Women and Children's Hospital in Lubbock. Lili then faced three surgeries within 24 hours.
After all her surgeries, doctors were able to let Lili's family know that her AVM was gone, but she still faced challenges like multiple seizures and aversions to medications. Finally, 14 days later, she was extubated and began speech, physical and occupational therapy.
"God is going to use her in amazing ways and she is here, and she was kept here with us for a purpose," said Strope. "She is a miracle and an inspiration, and I'm so blessed that 9 years ago this month her and her sisters came into my life."
Due to her ability to persevere from such an intensive condition, her mother Nancy Baltazar said Lili was given nicknames like "miracle baby" and "wonder woman."
Baltazar and Strope have set up a GoFundMe page to help raise money to pay for all the medical bills they now face. If you would like to help and read more on Lili's story, click here.
