The Hospital Universitari Son Espases has received the donation of an ECMO (extracorporeal life support) system from Larrick Ebanks, a patient who was admitted to the hospital’s ICU in December 2021 and remained connected to this technology for 82 days after suffering severe bilateral pneumonia caused by COVID-19.
The new device, a CARDIOHELP-i model by Maquet (GETINGE), which can also be used for pediatric patients, was purchased through a fundraising campaign initiated by Ebanks in collaboration with the JoyRon Foundation, with the support of Son Espases Hospital and the Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa).
During the presentation event, held in the hospital’s Sala Domum, Managing Director Cristina Granados publicly thanked the donor for his generosity. Ebanks shared his story as a patient and explained how, after recovering from the illness, he decided to promote this initiative as an expression of gratitude toward the medical team that cared for him.
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ICU patient donates ECMO equipment to Son Espases Hospital after surviving severe COVID-19 pneumonia
After being discharged from the ICU in April 2022 and transferred to the Pulmonology Department, Ebanks contacted the hospital’s management to express his wish to donate an ECMO machine. The JoyRon Foundation, which regularly collaborates with the hospital to support pediatric patients, joined the initiative and coordinated the donation, ensuring the purchase of a model suitable for children.
The IdISBa Foundation facilitated the administrative process and coordinated the implementation of the new equipment, which will not only enhance patient care but also support ongoing research and innovation projects at the hospital.
The ECMO unit, costing €78,650, was partly funded by the JoyRon Foundation (€48,450), with the remainder covered by hospital research funds. The new machine is already operational and bears a plaque reading “The Larrick ECMO”, in tribute to the patient who turned his personal struggle into an opportunity to help others.
ICU specialists Dr. José Raúl Arévalo and Dr. María Teresa Millán explained that ECMO is an advanced life-support technique used when the heart or lungs are unable to function properly. The system draws blood from the body, oxygenates it externally, and returns it to the patient, allowing these organs to rest and recover. It is a critical therapy in cases of severe respiratory or cardiac failure, such as acute pneumonia, cardiogenic shock, or complex surgical procedures.
Finally, Ronald M. Hawes, representative of the JoyRon Foundation, emphasized the importance of collaboration between patients, social organizations, and healthcare professionals to improve the quality of medical care and bring hope to the most vulnerable patients.