Nicholas Mata’s Fight for Justice

Nicholas Mata simply wants to enjoy playing football.

At just 12, he stands 6-foot-2, which certainly matches his aspirations. However, his journey took a drastic turn when a seemingly minor illness led to a near-fatal incident and left him with ongoing health issues.

In December 2023, Nicholas visited Methodist Southlake Medical Center for what his parents thought was a minor illness. During a second visit for a more serious condition, they claim the medical staff overlooked clear signs of distress and sent him home when hospitalization was necessary. This misstep nearly cost Nicholas his life, according to his family.

For over a year, Nicholas and his parents have been trying to deal with the aftermath of his condition.

The young boy continues to attend regular medical appointments and treatments. Recently, he spent a significant amount of time at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, only to discover that his heart is not functioning correctly.

His family contends that all of this could have been avoided. As they navigate the complexities of medical care, they are also pursuing accountability.

Reasa Selph filed a complaint with federal regulators, resulting in a violation notice for the hospital. They have since refiled a lawsuit against Methodist Southlake, citing Dr. Teresa Proietti and the Emergency Medicine Consultants group.

Proietti has not returned inquiries from the media, but she denied the allegations in a legal response.

A spokesperson for Methodist Health System noted they don’t comment on ongoing litigation, while Emergency Medicine Consultants similarly refrained from commenting.

In late July, Methodist Health System submitted court documents asserting that the claims are vague and lack sufficient evidence. They argued that the hospital is not liable for the actions of Proietti and labeled the events of December 2023 as “unavoidable due to no negligence” on their part.

The whirlwind of activity following Nicholas’ near-death experience underscores what a family can achieve when they have the resources and time to dedicate. Selph recognizes that not every family can follow the same path, which motivates her to keep advocating for change.

Timeline of Events

What began as a flu-like illness quickly escalated.

In mid-December 2023, a fifth grader at Liberty Christian School, Nicholas was sent home due to illness. His mother later took him to Methodist Southlake for treatment, where he received IV fluids and was then discharged.

Initially, it seemed he was recovering, but by December 22, his condition worsened. On the 23rd, Selph and Mata struggled to get Nicholas to move and returned to the hospital.

After a brief visit, the medical team declared it was just a viral infection and sent him home. Christmas morning, however, was different: Nicholas could hardly get out of bed and had lost his color.

The family took him to Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, where the staff quickly recognized he was critically ill.

Selph later explained how one frightening moment occurred when Nicholas vomited a significant amount of blood, highlighting how severe his condition was.

At Cook Children’s, Nicholas was diagnosed with septic shock, a severe response to infection that can lead to rapid organ failure and has a high mortality rate.

His week in the ICU included multiple invasive procedures. He spent over a month in the hospital and had to relearn how to walk afterward. Unfortunately, the complications from his illness may impact his football dreams.

His family believes that the complications could have been prevented if Nicholas had received appropriate care during his second hospital visit.

Seeking Accountability

Since Nicholas’ discharge, his family has pressed for accountability, particularly against Methodist Southlake and those involved in his care.

Selph filed a complaint with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which subsequently found the hospital had not met care standards in Nicholas’ case. While the document didn’t name Nicholas specifically, they described a similarly aged patient with the same medical issues.

The federal notice indicated that there was a failure to conduct a proper medical examination and that he was discharged with a misdiagnosis despite abnormal test results.

Initially, they filed a civil lawsuit against the hospital in September but later shifted focus to legislative efforts during Texas’ 2025 session. After the session concluded, they resumed their lawsuit against Methodist Southlake and Dr. Proietti.

They maintain that both the hospital and the medical team exhibited negligence in Nicholas’ care.

While the hospital has not commented, their legal representatives claimed that the family’s assertions lack evidence and that the hospital cannot be held liable for Proietti’s actions. In earlier legal documents, Proietti denied any wrongdoing.

Selph is also pursuing consequences from the Texas Medical Board and the Texas Board of Nursing and is even exploring the possibility of criminal charges.

This journey has been time-consuming. Selph notes the immense effort required to navigate various enforcement channels.

Still, the family’s attorney believes in the strength of their case, stating they only pursue cases against medical providers when they are thoroughly supported by medical experts.

Striving for Change

A multitude of memories from the past year and a half haunt the family.

Selph recalls returning home from the hospital with the Christmas decorations still up long after the holiday had passed, and the emotional turmoil tied to that time.

Antonio Mata grapples with feelings of guilt over not recognizing the severity of Nicholas’ condition sooner.

To cope, they decided to break from their traditional Christmas routines and chose to spend the day indoor skydiving instead.

This past holiday season was particularly difficult, as the family struggled with the emotional weight of their experiences.

They hope to spare others from the fear and life-altering consequences they faced.

“If our experience can prevent even one person from going through this, it would mean a lot to us,” Selph said.

Resolving their lawsuit could take considerable time, and the legal process is often lengthy and expensive.

“But it’s worth it,” Mata added. “There’s got to be change.”