Over the last several years Midge has made it her mission to grow the ECMO program at the Children's Hospital and has now expanded the program to Covenant Medical Center for adults. She has dedicated her time, knowledge, and expertise to training and educating staff to become trained ECMO specialists. With this training Covenant Children's and Covenant Medical Center has been able to provide life-saving care that otherwise would not be available to them in this region. Midge brings an enormous amount of encouragement, enthusiasm, and motivation into everything that she does. She helps to raise the morale of a unit and the staff whenever she is on the unit.

Recently we have had multiple patients who have required the life-saving efforts of ECMO. MIdge has spent the last two months working six days a week to be available and provide excellent care to all the patients who have been on ECMO pumps. Even with the extensive hours worked she has yet to complain. Every morning she comes in with a smile on her face and starts her day by asking how everyone is doing. With many of our patients, she is constantly engaging with them and being their cheerleader. She provides compassionate care, and not only cares for their bodies but for their hearts and minds.

Recently during Halloween, she helped the family of one of our patients to get a costume and dress him up to bring a little extra joy to the day. I couldn't think of a more deserving person than Midge to receive this Award. She truly is a role model for others to follow, She lives out the mission of our organization every day.

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Midge Vaughan is our phenomenal ECMO coordinator. Midge has worked diligently to expand the pediatric ECMO program, to also care for adults. Covid escalated the need for adults requiring ECMO as a lifesaving option. For the last 4 months, we have had one to three patients on ECMO every day (with only a 10-day break). When we have patients on ECMO, it required an ECMO tech and coordinator at the bedside to safely care for these patients. Midge has been working SIX 12- hour shifts/week for the last 4 months to ensure these patients receive the best care while on her life-saving treatment of ECMO. Through her program, she has recently saved 7 lives!! She has worked so long and hard without complaining. During this time, she also facilitated another ECMO tech course to expand services and have safer coverage. Midge has sacrificed to give exceptional care and grow a lifesaving program. I am proud to work with such a dedicated nurse.