MADERA, Calif. – Families, doctors and nurses gathered under sunny skies for Valley Children’s ninth annual ECMO picnic – a celebration of strength and resilience for more than 70 children who survived life-threatening illnesses.
The event brought together families whose children received support from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a life-saving intervention used when all other life support measures have failed.
“Children who have been critically ill, whose life has been holding on by a thread, we put them on ECMO in an attempt to save their life,” Dr. Harry Kallas, medical director of Extracorporeal Life Support at Valley Children’s. “Fortunately, many of those children are here today with us as a true example of the incredible work our team does.”
This year’s celebration was marked by a major milestone: a $10 million pledge from the Guilds of Valley Children’s to support the hospital’s ECMO program over the next five years. The funds will help expand access to the life-saving treatment and support ongoing innovation in pediatric critical care.
“We’re thrilled to see the impact of this program in action, hear the success stories and interact,” said Marla McClaskey, coordinating council chair of the Guilds.
“I’m so grateful that she’s with us, and I’m so grateful for this place,” said Makayla Lord, whose daughter is an ECMO graduate. “One day they’re going to realize how strong they were… it’s a connection they’ll have for the rest of their life.”
The ECMO program at Valley Children’s is one of only 16 centers worldwide recognized as a Designated Platinum Center of Excellence by the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO). To learn more about the program, click here.
