Three Months Lost, a New Life Gained: Maranie’s ECMO Story
In the spring of 2021, Maranie Adams was diagnosed with COVID‑19 pneumonia, marking the beginning of a long and harrowing fight for her life. She spent 28 days in the hospital as her condition deteriorated. Soon she needed a higher level of care, and she transferred to Baptist Hospital to be placed on ECMO. What followed were six weeks on ECMO — days Maranie would later describe as a miracle of medical care, faith and sheer determination.
The most difficult part of her recovery came after she learned she had been in a medically induced coma and missed nearly three months of her life — time erased without warning.
After losing time, Maranie faced a new set of challenges. She spent another seven weeks in rehabilitation, slowly weaning off a feeding tube and tracheostomy. She also had to learn to walk again. She describes it as the hardest experience of her life, yet one that made her profoundly grateful for every breath she takes.
“I count my blessings every day,” Maranie said.
After re-learning how to walk, Maranie then faced anxiety and post-coma delirium of what was and felt real. Despite the challenges, her family and care team’s positivity and support helped carry her through. Even while she was in a medically induced coma, the ECMO team cared for Maranie’s husband and family with compassion, keeping them informed and including them in every step of her care.
After her first year post-ECMO life began to feel normal again. Today, Maranie lives with a renewed sense of appreciation — every moment, every milestone, every ordinary day feels like a gift. She credits her healing to her faith and says it has grown even stronger because of what she endured.
“God is so good,” Maranie said. “My faith carried me through and made me a better person.”
Maranie’s husband, Bruce, her soulmate of 39 years, made the hour‑long drive to and from the hospital every day for more than 100 days. His devotion, advocacy and unwavering love sustained her and remained one of the greatest blessings of her journey.
Family is everything to Maranie and Bruce. Their children each played meaningful roles during her journey. Jackson, their second oldest, became Bruce’s right-hand man at home, caring for their diabetic dog and supporting his younger brother, Dean, who has autism. Jackson’s steady help allowed Bruce to focus his energy on Maranie’s care. Their oldest son, Zack, traveled in when possible and, as a certified registered nurse anesthetist, helped explain medical information and treatment updates to the family. Maranie’s stepson, Brett, remained a constant source of encouragement from Mississippi—regularly checking in with Bruce and lifting the family up in prayer when he couldn’t be there in person. Magan, their daughter-in-law, sent meals and offered continuous prayers and support. Their youngest son, Dean, handled the disruption to his routine with patience and faith, trusting that his mom would be okay.
Maranie’s parents, especially her mother Ann, were also pillars of strength — keeping family and friends updated, organizing prayer circles and visiting when possible, even while her mother was simultaneously caring for her father through illness. Friends, extended family and their community rallied as well, organizing a donation fund, delivering meals, sending gifts, calling, texting and praying without ceasing.
Throughout her journey, Maranie’s gratitude has only grown deeper — gratitude for ECMO, for the team that fought for her, for the people who uplifted her and for the second chance at life she has been given.