Pope Leo XIV has formally recognized a medical miracle that took place in Pawtucket, Rhode Island in 2007.
The miracle involves the recovery of a premature baby, Tyquan Hall, who was born via emergency cesarean section and suffered from oxygen deprivation. Tyquan’s doctors did not expect him to survive due to severe lack of oxygen and other symptoms.
Dr. Juan Sanchez, the attending physician, prayed for the intercession of the 19th-century Spanish priest, Father Salvador Valera Parra, a regional patron in his native Spain.
Moments after the prayer, the baby’s heart began to beat normally without further medical intervention. The following day, he was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit, although doctors still expected severe neurological damage. However, Tyquan was discharged from the hospital on March 1, 2007 and continued to grow normally, speaking at 18 months and walking at 2 years of age, ultimately leading a healthy and active life.
The investigation into the miracle began in 2014 when a bishop from Parra’s native Spain sent investigators to Rhode Island. The Vatican’s Dicastery for the Causes of Saints attributed Tyquan’s healing to Father Parra’s spiritual intercession, and Pope Leo XIV officially approved this declaration in 2025.
This recognized miracle places Father Valera Parra on the path to beatification, the final step before being potentially canonized as a saint, which would require a second verified miracle.
The Diocese of Providence expressed excitement about this recognition, emphasizing the power of prayer and the closeness of God through the intercession of holy individuals. This marks a significant event for Rhode Island and the Catholic Church, being the first recognized miracle in the state.