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Texas Baby Soothed Only By the Sounds of Her Beloved Cowboys

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Tony Maples Photography

 

Just days after her second heart surgery, it seemed there was nothing that would sooth Lola, until her mom, Laura Catron, discovered the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. She turned on a Dallas Cowboys football game, and her 3-month old daughter, (who normally spends Sundays swaddled in a Cowboys onesie, cradled by her dad, Bryan, while they watch the NFL) calmed down almost instantly.

Just the Trick!

Texas Baby Soothed Only By the Sounds of Her Beloved Cowboys

Photo: Facebook/Love for Lola

Suffering from a life-threatening congenital heart defect, Lola has spent the last two months at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth as opposed to her home, while doctors make every effort to help her at this crucial time. This tiny little fan shares the love of football with her dad, who is a lifetime Cowboys devotee, and on Saturday, January 7, when her dad had to be away and nothing else would do the trick, Laura turned a Cowboys game on for Lola, and instantaneously she stopped crying to stare at the game.

For Her Health, It’s Imperative She Remains Calm.

Texas Baby Soothed Only By the Sounds of Her Beloved Cowboys

Photo: Facebook/Love for Lola

In an interview with NBC’s TODAY, Laura said, “I don’t know what it is. Maybe she likes stars, maybe she likes Troy Aikman’s voice, but she loves them.” The daddy-daughter ritual has always kept her happy. Laura added, “She’ll always stay calm during football games. She loves football.” It’s imperative that Lola not cry for long periods of time, otherwise, she’ll be required to go back on oxygen. So when she cried for 30 minutes that day at the medical center, Mom scrambled and came up with a solution. “Playing a football game for your infant is the last thing on your mind,” she said. But the thought came to her that Lola’s time with her dad watching games was a soothing time. And so Laura pulled up a Cowboys game on YouTube.

She’ll Only Calm Down for the Cowboys!

Texas Baby Soothed Only By the Sounds of Her Beloved Cowboys

Photo: Facebook/Love for Lola

And no other team will do apparently! This three-month-old, hardcore Cowboys fan won’t settle down unless her team is on. Laura tried to show Lola two other teams on YouTube and neither one sufficed. “She calmed down immediately and started watching it.” Laura says. And it’s been working through the hard times when Lola needs sedation medication. Throughout this whole experience, the Catrons are thankful for the medical attention their daughter is receiving, for Laura’s quick-thinking, and the fact that Lola is remaining calm.

Shedding Light on Lola’s Condition

Texas Baby Soothed Only By the Sounds of Her Beloved Cowboys

Photo: Facebook/Love for Lola

“Your baby only calming down during football makes you laugh. That’s what we need right now,” said Laura. The Catrons hope that Lola’s story will not only lend a note of humor, but will also raise awareness about congenital heart defects, having started a Facebook page called Love for Lola to shed more light on Lola’s condition. The story has caught the eye of the team, and the family hoped to be together at home to watch her team take on the Packers in yesterday’s playoff game. At the age of 3 years, Lola will require another operation, and eventually a full heart transplant. They’re looking towards a brighter future, but for now, Laura said “The plan is to sit on our couch and watch the game. We just want to do that from home, and not in a hospital.”