Page 48 - SHRINERS HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN OPEN PROGRAM 2017

News | STANDARD BEARERS

Garrett Heble Jake Damron Natalia Gonzalez Guemez
Houston, Texas Lexington, Kentucky Mexico City, Mexico
Garrett Heble, 15, is a sophomore at Columbia Sixteen-year-old Jake Damron from Ashland, Shriners Hospitals for Children – Mexico is
High School in West Columbia, Texas, where KY is making his second appearance as a happy to introduce our standard bearer to the
he competes on his school’s golf team. This standard bearer at the Shriners Hospitals for 2017 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.
past summer, he had emergency surgery and Children Open this year. He served in 2015, Natalia Gonzalez Guemez, 13, has been a
therapy for a traumatic brain injury at Shriners and returns this year to also play in the Pro- patient since she was nine months old. She
Hospitals for Children — Houston following an Am. was born without part of her pelvis and has
ATV accident. It was a miracle that he even a 45-degree lumbar curvature from scoliosis.
survived the accident, much less walked Jake was born with Erb’s Palsy caused by a Natalia started to walk with the help of a
away from Shriners Hospital after only eight brachial plexus injury at birth. At age 12, Jake’s prosthetic leg and physical therapy when she
days of therapy. The therapists at the Houston right arm began to draw up significantly. His was two years old.
Shriners Hospital played a significant role in parents, Steve and Jenny, were guided to Scott
Garrett's swift recovery, pushing him the Riley, M.D., pediatric orthopaedic specialist at Today she is a competitive swimmer. She won
whole way. Now, he awaits surgery to replace Shriners Hospitals for Children—Lexington. six medals at the Pan-American Games in
the skull bone on the left side of his head. Jake, a sports fanatic, was disappointed to Sao Palo, Brazil and she is training very hard
learn after his surgery that, while his recovery to participate in the 2020 Paralympic Games
In addition to golf, Garrett is an outdoorsman. exceeded all expectations, Dr. Riley could in Tokyo, Japan. Natalia is in secondary
He enjoys hunting, fishing and snowboarding not give Jake his blessing to continue to play school. In addition to swimming she has plays
with family and friends. He is super excited football. Instead of brooding about it, Jake tennis and basketball and practices tae kwon
for this great opportunity to represent Houston quickly decided he would conquer yet another do, but she spends most of her time training
Hospital at the Shriners Hospitals for Children sport - football drills were quickly replaced for swimming competitions.
Open in Las Vegas. He's not only excited with putting and chipping from dawn to dusk
about meeting other Shriners patients, but most every day. This summer Jake competed Natalia is excited to represent her hospital as
also the opportunity to meet some of the PGA in the KYPGAjr Tour of Champions, playing a gesture of gratitude for all the help she has
TOUR players – he’s a big fan! with and competing against some of the best received. She is an example for all Mexican
junior players in the state of Kentucky. children and a source of pride for her parents,
community and country.
A junior at Ashland Paul Blazer High School
in Ashland, Kentucky, Jake not only continues
with his love of golf, but is also proud to talk
about his involvement in his church - First
Christian Church, where he serves as a Youth
Deacon.

"No matter how hopeless you may feel or
difficult your situation may be, everything
happens for a reason, you never know what
God has in store for your future,” Jake says.
“My arm may never be perfectly straight, but I
am grateful for what Dr. Riley has given me...I
am truly blessed!"

46 November 2- 5, 2017 | TPC SUMMERLIN | LAS VEGAS, NV