LifeFlight's specialty medical equipment helps critical patients

Joey and Johnnie Parker seem like typical 2-year-old twin boys. Happy and active, they interact playfully with each other and already love to torment their big sister, three-year-old Lillian. But it’s been an uphill struggle for the boys. Born 15 weeks premature, they spent nearly four months in intensive care at Maine Medical Center and Eastern Maine Medical Center. Even after they were discharged home, both Johnnie and Joey battled respiratory and cardiac difficulties.

But as Johnnie began to improve, Joey continued to make countless trips to the hospital. One night in January, just before his first birthday, Joey stopped breathing.

His mom Danielle called her father to help and started CPR. Together, they took him to the emergency department (ED) at Mayo Regional Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft. The nurses and physicians there understood the complexity of Joey’s condition, and knew right away LifeFlight would need to transport him to EMMC. The crew on board the helicopter carries advanced equipment for infants including a special ventilator to help them breathe and portable lab kits that allow the patient’s condition to be closely monitored. The ED staff made the request for LifeFlight and then established a telemedicine conference with Dr. George Payne, a pediatric intensivist at EMMC, to help them secure Joey’s airway and prepare him for transport. When the flight crew arrived, they used a handheld diagnostic computer, called an iStat, to quickly test Joey’s blood for oxygen, carbon dioxide and other gases. This information allowed them to make appropriate adjustments to the ventilator to ensure a safe trip.

When Joey arrived at EMMC, he tested positive for influenza. After a week of treatment with antibiotics, steroids and nebulizers, Joey was well enough to go home. This time, something was different. Joey began to improve. The once quiet and cautious infant began babbling and crawling and finally started to gain weight. Today, like most kids his age, he gets into everything he’s not supposed to. He loves cars and playing outside.

Missy, the flight nurse that took care of Joey, had a chance to reconnect with the family after his recovery.

“I can’t believe the change I see in Joey. His airway was so fragile when we transported him, I was very worried that he wouldn’t pull through. The emergency staff at Mayo Regional did a great job in a very tenuous situation. In rural Maine, we have to be creative with our healthcare resources. The ability to have a live conference with the experienced pediatrician in Bangor was a huge help, and LifeFlight’s advanced medical equipment really made the difference in Joey’s situation.”

CREW MEMBERS
CommSpec Jonathan "JR" Roebuck : Pilot Dave Burr
Nurse Missy McCann : Paramedic Kevin Burkholder