After a young father’s bypass surgery fails, an HCA Healthcare doctor and his team are called to help due to their ECMO transport capabilities.
When Leo Dooley woke up one day with flu-like symptoms, his wife, Taylor, insisted he go to the hospital for an evaluation. Leo sought care at another facility and was told he needed bypass surgery. When it failed, Leo’s care team reached out to HCA Healthcare’s Medical City Heart Hospital for a higher level of care.
Dr. Brian Lima, surgical director of heart transplantation and mechanical circulatory support at Medical City Heart Hospital, and his team immediately flew by helicopter to put Leo on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO). Medical City Heart Hospital is one of only two hospitals in North Texas with ECMO transport capabilities. Once stabilized, the team transported Leo to Medical City Heart Hospital, where he underwent heart transplantation surgery.
“I wanted to be a part of a team that is willing to do whatever it takes to save a life,” said Dr. Lima. “If there is a patient in need, no matter where they are, we’ll find a way to get to them as quickly as possible and give them the support that they need.”
With his new heart, Leo is doing better than ever and is back at home with his wife and two young children. “I would not be here without this hospital or the people in it,” said Leo.
Transplants are lifesaving and life giving. HCA Healthcare is proud of the physicians and caregivers across our organization who help provide the gift of life through transplant medicine. In 2021, HCA Healthcare completed 77 heart transplants, 120 liver transplants and 1,103 kidney transplants.
Investing in future leaders
When Minnie Washington arrived for her first day of work in HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe's cafeteria 30 years ago, she had no idea that she’d one day be a leader in the nursing field, helping to guide a team of nurses through a pandemic.
Caring for our communities
HCA Healthcare and our colleagues are committed to building stronger, more vibrant communities through giving and volunteering.
Working together for a miracle
When a premature baby is born with a gap in her esophagus, doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists come together to ensure her recovery.
