At just four years old, Sofia Vargas depends on complex medical treatment in the U.S. to survive a rare condition called short bowel syndrome.

Born prematurely in Mexico, Sofia underwent six surgeries and now relies on Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN), an intravenous feeding system. Dr. John Arsenault of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles said, “any interruption… could be fatal within days.”

Her family entered the U.S. through a humanitarian parole program in 2023. Since then, Sofia’s health improved dramatically. She went from constant hospital stays to walking to preschool with her mother, carrying a backpack full of medical supplies. “She finally had some normalcy,” said her mother, Deysi Vargas.

But in April 2025, the family’s legal status was abruptly revoked. They were told to leave the U.S. voluntarily or face deportation. Attorney Rebecca Brown said, “This child will die… it would just be a cruel sacrifice.”

The family fled Mexico after local doctors couldn’t stabilize Sofia’s condition. In the U.S., her health became manageable, though still serious. She requires 14-hour overnight IV feedings and multiple daily gastric feedings. Vargas performs all of this care while working cleaning jobs to cover expenses. “Sometimes we only eat once a day,” she shared.