Samuel and Bugs Bunny
Samuel Carretero couldn't believe his eyes the morning of Dec. 6 when he found out he would ride in the 2008 Neiman Marcus Adolphus Parade with his favorite character, Bugs Bunny. Samuel's ear-to-ear grin at the parade matched the one seen on his face after a life-altering procedure at Children's Medical Center.
Samuel was born with microvillus inclusion disease — his intestines did not absorb food. Since birth, Samuel had received nutrients through IV fluids. On December 1, 2007, physicians at Children's transplanted 12 feet of intestine — the first transplant in Texas to treat his rare condition. Samuel spent three weeks in the hospital and went home a healthy 12-year-old with a hearty appetite.
