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Child inspires mother, makeup line


Averie born without a heartbeat

Kimberly Rubio

Assistant editor

Born without a heartbeat and having faced 20-plus surgeries, 11-year-old Averie Torres is an inspiration to her family and friends. So much so that Red Aspen, a makeup line that names all products after inspiring females, chose Averie to represent one of their brow pencils.

Averie is the daughter of Valerie and Josh Torres, who are originally from San Benito. The family relocated to Uvalde eight years ago, when Josh Torres accepted a position at the Uvalde station of the U.S. Border Patrol.

Averie, who attends Knippa Independent School District, has two younger siblings, Gabriella, 7, and Ezra, 3.

Valerie said she had a relatively easy pregnancy, but when she went into labor at 37 weeks, Averie’s heart stopped beating.

Torres delivered Averie, who was resuscitated, placed on a ventilator and airlifted to Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi.

“Four months of her life were spent there. They still don’t know why it happened,” Valerie said.

Utilizing the Apgar score, a test given to newborns after birth to check heart rate, reflexes, muscle tone and breathing, Valerie said doctors scored her daughter a 2 out of 10.

“They rate babies one to 10, one being not likely to survive. She was given a two,” Valerie said.

Averie remained intubated for a month, and during that time her mother was unable to hold her. She was released from the hospital just before Christmas but remained on a feeding tube and nasal cannula, a device used to deliver supplemental oxygen.

Her journey was far from over. At 2 years old Averie was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone, and growth hormone deficiency.

As a result, Averie receives subcutaneous injections five times a week and has faced 20 surgeries with more scheduled in the future. In 2016 she was diagnosed with Hypogammaglobulinemia, an immune disorder.

Valerie, a Red Aspen brand ambassador, nominated Averie as an inspiring woman in a contest to name a new cosmetic product. Averie was selected, and the family received “Averie’s Brow Pencil” last week. The $20 product is available in four colors.

Valerie said Averie, as she has gotten older, has started asking questions about her conditions.

“She is very optimistic and strong. She takes everything head-on,” Valerie said. “She was excited to find out there was a product named after her. She wants to be an inspiration to many young ladies out there who face the same or similar challenges.”

Averie Torres

Averie Torres

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