Quick Action and Coordination Saved a Life: April's ECMO Story
In March 2026, April Wyman arrived at the hospital for a routine procedure — planned, preventative and expected to be uneventful. But within minutes of being placed under anesthesia, everything changed.
April went into sudden cardiac arrest. In a matter of moments, a controlled surgical setting turned into a life-or-death emergency. As her heart stopped, a highly coordinated response began, one that would ultimately save her life.
At the center of that response was obstetrician and gynecological surgeon Dr. Erika Schneider, M.D., who immediately recognized the severity of the situation and remained a steady, guiding presence for both the care team and April’s family as events unfolded.
Within minutes, the specialized teams mobilized. Surgeons, ECMO specialists, perfusionists and critical care staff worked in unison, placing April on ECMO. She was rushed to the ICU, where her fight continued. For seven days, April remained sedated as her body rested and healed. ECMO supported her life for four of those days.
In those critical moments, Dr. Schneider became more than a physician. She became a source of calm, clarity and compassion.
At the same time, the Baptist ECMO team carried out the complex, around-the-clock work of sustaining April’s life — monitoring, adjusting and responding to every change with precision and urgency.
Together, this team created something powerful: time.
Time for April’s heart to rest.
Time for her body to respond.
Time for hope to return.
And slowly, it did. As the days passed, April showed signs of recovery. Her heart function improved. Her reliance on support decreased. Eventually, the machines that had sustained her were no longer needed.
But survival was only the beginning. Recovery brought its own challenges — physical healing and emotional processing. Then April had the lingering question of why this had happened at all. Yet through it all, April and her family remained grateful.
“There were moments my family didn’t know if I would survive,” April said. “And there are moments I still try to process everything that happened. But I am here, and I don’t take that for granted for a single second.”
Her appreciation extends deeply to those who stood beside her: her husband, who carried the emotional weight of those uncertain days while staying strong for their two young boys; her parents, family, friends and community, who surrounded them with vital support and prayer; and the team at Baptist Health Care, whose expertise and compassion made her recovery possible.
Today, life looks different for April — but in the most meaningful ways. Her recovery continues, along with a renewed appreciation for the moments that once felt ordinary — time with her husband, her children and the people she loves. This experience has reshaped how she lives, reminding her to slow down and embrace each day as a gift.
Because of a team that acted without hesitation and the strength of those who stood beside her, April Wyman is here. She is a living reminder of the power of quick action, compassionate care and the extraordinary second chances that ECMO can make possible.
