This marks a second record-shattering year for solid organ transplants for Vanderbilt Health, surpassing last year’s previous record with an additional 109 lives saved. 

ECMO, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, is a life-sustaining mechanical system that takes over for the hearts and lungs of critically ill patients, allowing them to rest and recover.

Her care illustrates the multidisciplinary expertise of the Vanderbilt Women’s Heart Center, Cardiac OB/High-Risk Pregnancy Team and maternal-fetal medicine specialists.

The method, rapid recovery with extended ultra-oxygenated preservation, involves flushing the donor heart with a cold oxygenated preservation solution after death.

A portion of the funds will go to raise awareness for organ, eye and tissue donation and fund statewide education and outreach for organ donation.

These advances include emerging techniques of rehabilitating organs that would once have been discarded as unusable.