Choosing Hope: How ECMO Gave Julie a Second Chance
Julie Orren’s journey with ECMO began unexpectedly during one of the most uncertain periods of the COVID‑19 pandemic. Julie and her husband, Joe, had both been diagnosed with COVID‑19 and came to Baptist Hospital to receive IV antibiotics. What they didn’t know was how quickly Julie’s condition would worsen—or how dramatically her life would change.
When Julie arrived, her oxygen levels were dangerously low. A rapid response team was immediately called, and she was taken to the ICU. For the next two weeks, she remained in her room in ICU with high oxygen requirement which required tracheotomy. Despite every effort, her condition continued to decline, and her right lung eventually collapsed. Julie required a tracheostomy. Joe was faced with making a decision to put his wife on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or ECMO. Her survival rate was 50/50.
Joe chose ECMO, hoping it would give Julie the chance she needed to survive. Julie was placed into a medically induced coma for approximately two weeks. During this time the ECMO machine worked to support her heart and lungs, allowing her body time to heal and rest.
Those weeks were filled with uncertainty. “It was a very emotional time,” Julie recalls, “especially not knowing what the outcome would be after I woke up.” When she woke up, the news was hopeful—the treatment had worked.
Throughout her hospitalization, Julie received care from the dedicated Baptist care team. She remains deeply grateful for the compassion, expertise and commitment shown to her during those critical moments. “The Baptist team gave me great care,” said Julie. “And I am very thankful to all who were involved in looking after me. I am very blessed and thankful that I was at Baptist Hospital and was able to receive this level of care.”
Life after ECMO gives Julie a new chapter. She approaches recovery one day at a time. “Life after ECMO has been pretty good,” Julie said. “It’s a day‑to‑day journey, but I’m happy that I’m here to take it.”
Julie credits her survival to medical innovation as well as faith, prayer and support from her loved ones. Her family were her greatest strengths. Julie also expresses gratitude to the physicians and innovators who developed ECMO technology— “the brilliance behind the machine that saved my life.”
Julie’s story is a reminder of resilience, advanced care and hope in times of uncertainty.
