Newsroom

By Jan Jarvis

Daniel Morales came into the world too early and too small.

He didn’t get enough oxygen during birth. He had brain damage and cerebral palsy.

Nancy Davis first spotted him when he was 3 years old and attending a special education pre-kindergarten class where she was a school psychologist. She could not get him out of her mind.

Already licensed as foster parents, Davis and her former husband, Mike, brought the little boy into their home.

“He was such a cute little guy and he had been through so much,” she said.

Throughout his childhood, Daniel attended school and received health care without facing any major obstacles. But when he turned 21 and aged out of the system, the challenges he was about to face as an adult with disabilities became clear.

Finding physicians who would treat a severely disabled adult on Medicaid was nearly impossible. Then she heard about UNT Health Science Center’s family medicine clinic.

“The doctors there were the first to really treat Daniel with respect and kindness,” she said. “They were so careful to speak directly to him.

“I want people to know how the Health Science Center is really providing for the community. UNTHSC provides a very needed and valuable service to the disabled adult population.”

Grateful for the care her family has received, Davis said she wanted to give back. That’s why she bought tickets to An Evening with a Legend featuring Vince Gill, a fundraiser concert that supports the Health Science Center’s commitment to values-based and patient-focused education, discovery and health care.

She said it seemed like the perfect way to support UNTHSC and treat Daniel to a special event.

“We like Vince Gill,” said Daniel, 27, who works at the Community Food Bank.

Davis said she wishes she could do more.

“I’m just so grateful we have a resource like UNTHSC in our community,” she said.

• Share
• Tweet