Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Groundbreaking surgery saves young boy's life at Herma Heart Institute

Dr. Ronald Woods with patient BrentLee
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Groundbreaking surgery saves young boy's life at Herma Heart Institute

Apr 18, 2019
Children's Wisconsin Media Relations

“On April 20, 2017, BrentLee’s father rushed him to Oconto Falls Memorial Hospital. A flight-for-life helicopter then airlifted him to St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay. He was suffering from congestive heart failure, an emergency that would require one more trip to [the Herma Heart Institute at] Children's Wisconsin.

Before the ambulance departed with BrentLee, staff allowed the parents to say goodbye.

Chelsey stood there, exhausted and afraid. It had been her first day at a new job and she'd just finished a 12-hour shift.

'I hugged and kissed him,' she said. 'I told him I loved him.'

Robert, not a religious man, had only prayed a few times in his life. He prayed that night.”


That chilling moment was just the beginning of BrentLee’s incredible journey. You don’t want to miss Toddler with failing heart rescued by groundbreaking surgery at Children’s Wisconsin, the harrowing and deeply emotional story about a young boy “born with blond hair, beguiling eyes…and a handful of holes in his heart” and the Herma Heart Institute doctor who did what had never been done before to save his life.

Read the full story in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
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Children's Wisconsin Media Relations

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Researchers at Children's Wisconsin work to develop cutting-edge treatments and medical breakthroughs designed to improve the health of children. We represent the most powerful concentration of pediatric research in the region. Innovation means more here.