Pioneering the Practice of Medicine
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Pioneering the Practice of Medicine: Pediatric Specialists
On Dec. 4, 1987, Alvaro Garza's outdoor fun took a disastrous turn. The 11-year-old broke through the frozen Red River, disappearing under the ice. Local rescue teams rushed to the scene, working together to locate and rescue him. Forty five minutes later, he was found – no pulse, not breathing, a 77-degree body temperature.
An ambulance rushed Alvaro to MeritCare where a team of pediatric specialists awaited. The first hours and days were critical. Though little was then known about cold-water drowning after such a prolonged time under water, MeritCare specialists pooled their knowledge and devised a plan, including the use of a heart-lung bypass machine to slowly warm the boy's temperature and re-establish circulation and oxygenation. This plan in combination with careful monitoring, the high-tech capabilities of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, the highly trained pediatric team and expertise from the entire care team proved invaluable.
Seventeen days later, smiling and waving, Alvaro returned home to his family. Media outlets across the country followed the entire story, prompting prayers and well-wishes from every corner. Many called it a miracle.
Today, Alvaro lives in Texas with a family of his own. Knowledge gained from his near-drowning continues to help others; several MeritCare specialists involved in his care co-authored an article published in 1992 in the medical journal Critical Care Medicine.