Last month we had the honor of celebrating the kindness of Janell Boldt, who made a significant gift to our Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS) Program. Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) provides breathing and heart support and is used after all standard treatments for those problems have failed. It lets the heart and/or lungs of our most critically ill patients rest, while our doctors treat the underlying illness. Because of Janell's philanthropy, the team purchased an additional ECMO machine, allowing more children to receive this lifesaving therapy at Valley Children's.
On March 29, Janell experienced the value of her gift when she returned to Valley Children's Hospital to see the machine she made possible and meet a special visitor, Ms. Riley Clark. Riley was diagnosed with severe myocarditis, an infection in her heart that can require a heart transplant. The ECLS team at Valley Children's acted quickly, put Riley on the lifesaving therapy and sent her via Air George to the nearest pediatric transplant center. After seven days on ECMO and antibiotics, Riley was taken off all supportive therapy and was able to breathe on her own.
Riley, her parents and grandfather joined us to celebrate Janell's gift to the ECLS Program for which they will forever be thankful. It was a special day that all of us will remember.
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