CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Doctors and staff at Driscoll Children's Hospital are used to treating some of their patients for years on end.
One of those patients is a 17-year-old junior at King High School who continues to beat the odds even after being diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.
Brandon Despain has overcome long odds to still be standing today.
"He wasn't expected to make it," his grandmother Beatrice Gallagher said.
Like all teens Brandon loves to be on his phone. His grandmother sat down with 3News to help tell his story.
"He had a life expectancy of 17 when he was born, but now he can go into his 40's," Gallagher said. "That's what's great about Driscoll."
Brandon was born at 24 weeks and not long after that it was discovered that he had cystic fibrosis. He ended up staying in the neo-natal intensive care unit for 18 months and has had to undergo a number of surgeries and procedures.
"Considering how many challenges he's had, he's doing really well," Dr. Ana Maria Paez said. "His family is very supportive and engaged in his treatment. They're very organized in providing his care for his lung issues, and for his diabetes they check his blood sugar diligently and give him insulin diligently, but a very good family. He's doing very well because his family gives him his medications and gets him his follow ups."
Brandon's family has to make sure he also takes the 30 daily pills he has to have to stay strong, but his grandmother points to the care he receives at Driscoll as the real reason behind his good health.
"There's miracles here. Every day you walk out of here knowing that if you have to come back, you're going to be taken care of and have all, everything you need here," Gallagher said.
It's a real comfort to his family, who depends on the hospital's expert staff to continue to deliver the care Brandon needs so he will live a long and healthy life.