AdventHealth team unites a new mother and COVID-19 survivor with her child for the first time since his birth

At 37 weeks pregnant, COVID-19 positive patient Jeandelize Velez delivered her baby via C-section at a local hospital, and without getting a chance to meet her son, was transferred to the Advanced Cardiac Surgical Unit at AdventHealth Orlando for Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) treatment. She spent over 50 days on the ECMO machine, which is a form of life support that eases the toll on the heart and lungs for patients recovering from severe medical conditions.

After she tested negative and noninfectious for COVID-19, the AdventHealth care team planned a surprise first visit with her son Matteo and husband Emmanuel. The visit took place in September, and since then, Jeandelize has continued to make strides in her healing, and recently came off of the ECMO machine and ventilator. She was discharged from the hospital in October, and is recovering at home with her family.