I had the pleasure of hearing this story first-hand from the patient. Just one of the perks of working with amazing people at the Center for Advanced Heart Failure. What the article doesn't tell you is that this story almost didn't happen. I was told that some higher ups were dragging their feet about approving this civilian transport and the head of the team said first and foremost there was an oath as a medical professional to do no harm. That was all that needed to be said. They had the equipment and the trained team and therefore would be causing someone harm by NOT transporting the patient.
I was blown away by the generosity of spirit and the willingness to go above and beyond to save a man's life. The weather didn't cooperate for a Blackhawk life flight, so they drove by ambulance from Austin to Houston instead. They saved the patient's life because when someone needs to be on ECMO it's not a matter of how many days can their heart last but how many more minutes can they survive. I've been a part of a Code Blue and watched the surgical team put someone on ECMO; it is an awe inspiring site. Modern medicine is borderline miraculous. Men and women serving in the United States military are truly amazing individuals. It takes a special kind of person to do what they do. Here's a story about real heroes in action.
"BAMC Teams With Regional Medical Centers to Save a Man's Life"
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