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Children's Emergency and Critical Care Patient Stories

Have your own inspiring patient story to share? If you’d like to share your Nicklaus Children's story to inspire hope, and help other families find answers to questions they’re seeking for their child, please contact us at: info@nicklaushealth.org.

Tomas’ Remarkable Story

August 02, 2022 – Tomas was at home with his family in August 2021, when he suddenly collapsed and stopped breathing. Upon arrival at the hospital, Tomas still had no heart function and was emergently admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and placed on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation ECMO, a heart-lung bypass therapy that would give his heart time to gain strength and recover.

Supporting Children with ADHD While Social Distancing

May 01, 2020 – Children who have transitioned to the home-school or virtual-school setting may experience difficulties focusing. This can be especially true for a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Through structure, tailored behavior management plans, and reinforcement strategies, children with ADHD can thrive in this “new normal.”

Patient of the Month: Charlie

December 03, 2018 – After surviving a high-risk pregnancy with a set of twins, the Strombom’s were faced with yet another complication. Their third child, an unborn baby named Charlie, was diagnosed with a congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM) and underwent two in utero interventions to allow for a full and healthy gestation period. Once delivered, the LifeFlight team from Nicklaus Children’s Hospital was on stand-by to transport Charlie from West Palm Beach to Miami.

Patient of the Month: Frankie

December 04, 2017 – What was supposed to be a fun day for Frankie and his sister with their uncle quickly took an unexpected and tragic turn. Frankie was kicked in the head by a horse at the ranch they were visiting, and he suffered a traumatic brain injury. 

Patient of the Month: Luna

February 18, 2016 – Luna was born full-term in June 2011, and her family had no idea what was in store. After just a few short hours, doctors realized she was not receiving enough oxygen in her blood and knew it was serious.

Felix's ECMO Success Story

November 07, 2014 – Little Felix was admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and had to undergo extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a procedure that saved his life.

Jesse's ECMO Success Story

November 29, 2012 – 17 years ago Jesse underwent heart-lung bypass treatment at Nicklaus Children's, now he's the quarterback of his high school football team

Cameron's Success Story

January 26, 2012 – The first sign of trouble came in June when Cameron came home from day camp with a cough and fever. A swab test at the pediatrician’s office suggested Cameron did not have the H1N1 virus. But within a week her condition had worsened. Within days of hospitalization, Cameron was in a coma and was placed on a ventilator for complications later proven to be associated with H1N1. When her condition continued to deteriorate, doctors suggested she be transferred to Nicklaus Children's Hospital, formerly Miami Children's Hospital, for advanced care.

Amelia's Success Story

January 12, 2012 – Amelia was born with gastroschisis. She was taken into surgery the day she was born, days after she required yet another surgery adn was transferred to Nicklaus Children's Hospital via Life Flight for emergency surgery.