While AdventHealth’s front line teams are working around the clock to care for COVID-19 patients, community members are showing their appreciation for staff members through donations, thank you notes, and most recently a beautiful fireworks display.
Earlier last month, AdventHealth Foundation Central Florida donor and Heart, Lung and Vascular Institute Board Member Shawn Bush organized a celebratory July 4th fireworks display for patients and AdventHealth employees. Patients and staff members were able to socially distance and safely watch the fireworks near Lake Virginia that could be seen from AdventHealth Winter Park and AdventHealth Orlando patient towers. Sonny’s BBQ also donated delicious desserts for the staff to enjoy in the hospital while watching the spectacle. These generous acts of kindness were greatly appreciated by employees in our hospital and Shawn says the appreciation goes both ways.
“With so many difficult events occurring over the last several months causing heartache to our community, we simply wanted to bring some happiness to AdventHealth by celebrating not only our country on this Fourth of July, but also show our thanks and appreciation to the medical doctors, nurses, and staff of AdventHealth. I am grateful to the AdventHealth Orlando and AdventHealth Winter Park first responders who work in unison to watch over us, heal us, and protect us every day without fail.”
Shawn and his wife Jennifer have significantly helped AdventHealth in the fight against COVID-19. The Bush family’s philanthropic support helped create our Advanced Cardiac Surgical Unit (ACSU), an ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) unit that provides the highest level of short-term life support for patients with advanced heart and lung failure. As the only hospital in Central Florida recognized as a Gold Center of Excellence by the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO), this unit has treated over 500 patients since opening and has been beyond essential during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ECMO machines have saved the lives of 33 COVID-19 patients. Nelson, Manager of the ACSU and ECMO Program, says they recently saved a 26-year-old new mother who was diagnosed with COVID-19
“She was 26 weeks pregnant and became really ill. We have countless stories of lives saved with COVID. I’ve spoken with our doctors about how we give hope during this pandemic. If we didn’t have ACSU and ECMO, there would be a lot of people without any hope.”
This is an inspiring example of how our community has stepped up to support AdventHealth as the fight against COVID-19 continues. However, we still need your support. The need for inpatient and outpatient clinical trials in antiviral therapies and vaccine trials is critical. With your help, AdventHealth can expand and provide the best treatments to critically ill patients while offering preventative therapies to stay on the cutting-edge of COVID-19 research. Visit GenerosityHeals.com to learn more about how you can support AdventHealth through COVID-19 research.
