ECMO therapy can offer life-saving intervention for those suffering from a respiratory crisis. The use of ECMO has increased in recent years, largely due to the prevalence of diseases like COVID-19 and the flu, but also because of innovations in the field and higher adoption across medical systems.

ECMO is often used for patients who are critically ill. It requires a specialized team and equipment, as well as advanced knowledge and experience for the careful transfer and care of patients. At SpecialtyCare, we are privileged to be the largest provider of ECMO therapy, and our teams work diligently to ensure the best possible outcomes for our patients.

Our Team Provided Care for Baby Theo and His Family

One of our recent success stories involves a very young patient — a newborn baby named Theo Evans. Baby Theo was born on June 5, 2023, with severe meconium aspiration syndrome. He spent a week on the ECMO machine, 14 days on a ventilator, and a total of 44 days in the NICU at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital.

Baby Theo’s grandmother, Mary Ellen Ramsey, wrote to us to express her gratitude about how our team walked alongside her family during Theo’s journey:

“This Thanksgiving, right after thanking God for his kindness to us, the staff at Advocate is next on my list. I know you all get paid to do a job, but make no mistake, God uses you to impact others’ lives when they are in the darkest of the valleys. Forty-four days is a fair amount of time to get to know someone and the way of a place. Y’all took us in, you cared for Theo at the highest level medically, you cared for McKinlie (mom) and Eric (dad), Kevin (Big Pop), and me, Mary Ellen (KiKi), as well.

“You included us in his care, you let us sit in on rounds, you allowed questions, you celebrated hurdles overcome, you softened the blow of those not yet overcome, you gave us hope when it was hard to come by, you cautioned us to not get too far ahead of Theo’s care for his sake, you laughed with us, you let us cry, you got to know us, you checked in with McKinlie to see how she was doing emotionally and responded to that with resources, you let us decorate his room, you brought Theo gifts (books, blankets, homemade items from volunteers), you gave us a place to sleep (The Ronald McDonald House was not up and running), you were silly with us, you were professional, you had high standards, you upheld those standards, and you were and are forever in my heart a gift from God.

“Because of you, Theo is not just alive, Theo is a healthy almost 6 month old boy that is neurologically, cognitively, and developmentally appropriate. 

\I know outcomes are not always like this in the NICU. Even when they are not, I don’t want you to lose sight of the fact that the job you do is more than a job. You are ministering to families through your excellent care. These families will not forget you. Some may find it hard to reach back out to say thanks because going back means reliving some of their hardest days. It has taken me almost 6 months to do so, and I’m just the KiKi!

“So, thank you! What you do daily matters. NEVER FORGET THAT!”

We were absolutely thrilled to receive this wonderful letter and couldn’t be more glad that Baby Theo is healthy, at home, and progressing well. It’s one more reminder that our organization is filled with awesome people whose hard work has a positive impact on patients’ lives. 

Join Our Team

Are you looking for a place where you can make a difference with your medical skills? Would you like to excel in your career and reach the next level through continuing education and training? Are you ready to work with other awesome people who love improving the lives of patients across the country? Contact us today to learn more about how you can join our one-of-a-kind team!