Deron with one of his favorite snakes (Reaper).

Deron Gutierrez is a sophomore who is mostly known at Miami High for excelling in his classes, but his story runs down deeper than just academics. It is about resilience. 

Born To Overcome  

Deron was born with hydrocephalus, a condition where fluids build up in the brain and often requires surgery to relieve the pressure.  As a result of this, Deron has a shunt implanted in his spine, When he was just six years old, Deron faced surgeries that could have broken anybody’s spirit. He remembers waking up at night to the sound of doctors working around him making him feel very anxious. The scars, the stitches, even the strange sensations of the shunt became part of his everyday life.  

Instead of slowing him down, those moments formed his ambition. “I didn’t think I’d make it,” said Deron, “but I did and that’s why I push myself now.” Each challenge taught him to push harder, and today, that same determination shows in the way he refuses to let setbacks define him. 

Social / School Life  

At Miami High, Deron is known for his strong academics, but school was also a place where he learned to navigate life with his condition. As a child, he sometimes felt left out when other kids ran across the soccer field while he had to sit on the sidelines. “Yes, I did feel left out sometimes, because I couldn’t do a lot of the things other kids did,” he said. Still moments with friends gave him a taste of normalcy, running around, and forgetting his medical limits for a while.  

 Teachers also played a significant role in his journey.   Math teacher Mr. Hernandez, for example, helped him improve in reading and even introduced him to chess. “I could always confide in him because he was very patient with me,” Deron said. 

Growth Through Struggle 

Living with a shunt taught Deron discipline and caution, but it also shaped how he sees the world. “Because of the shunt, I grew up learning how to take care of myself,” he said. Over time, he came to understand courage in a new way: “It’s not just about being scared. It’s about moving forward while still feeling the fear.”  

The biggest lesson he carries is patience and perseverance. Deron says, “I tell myself it’ll pass, and later on it won’t be such an issue.” His strength comes not from avoiding trouble, but from choosing to keep moving forward despite it. “I wish for people to accept me for who I am and understand what I went through, because some people have been very inconsiderate,” he added. His hope is that sharing his story will spark understanding rather than judgment. 

Family Support 

Through the hardest nights, Deron’s family became his pillar. His parents and older brother never left his side, giving him comfort when he needed it most. “They would cuddle me, stick by my side,” he said, “and that is all I needed.” Even when fear was overwhelming, his family carried hope for him. “Everything will be okay. Good things last; bad things will fade away,” they often told him this phrase that Deron still holds it dearly. Their presence reminded him that no matter how hard it got, he was never truly alone. 

Pushing forward 

Despite everything, Deron has done more than simply survive; he has thrived. Some doubted him, even preyed on his downfall, but he has turned those doubts into fuel. Deron says, “I didn’t think I’d make it, but I did and that is why I push myself now.”  

Deron’s story is not about medical battles or setbacks. It is about proving that nothing — fear or pain or other people’s expectations – can hold anybody back, including himself.