HERSHEY, Pa. — Penn State Health is adding a new specialty ambulance to its fleet of lifesaving vehicles. On Tuesday, Life Lion crew members unveiled its second pediatric ambulance.
The ambulance features specialty equipment, such as a neonatal transport incubator, ventilator, and robust oxygen system.
Janette Migliori from Fairview Township, York County said it was these special ambulances that are responsible for saving her daughter's life.
Joella was born prematurely at 35 weeks and was diagnosed with VACTERL association and a congenital heart defect. Janette said she was immediately transported to the Penn State Children's Hospital for the first of 15 life-saving surgeries.
“Penn State was right there when we needed it," said Migliori. "I always say that her first car ride was in a pediatric ambulance and without that, we would’ve buried our daughter.”
The new pediatric ambulance also is big enough to carry five caregivers to work with pediatric patients on the road. Dr. Yatin Vyas, the head of the pediatrics department at Penn State Health, said the ambulance acts like a mobile ICU in giving kids the care they need.
“Time is of the essence when it comes to these life and death moments with kids, whether it’s accidents or seriously ill kids," said Dr. Vyas.
Joella was the first to tour the back of the new ambulance on Tuesday. Her mother said she treats the Life Lion crew like family and understands the role the vehicles play in saving kids' lives.
“She says, ‘that's my ambulance, there goes my ambulance,'" said Migliori. "She recognizes that that’s how her life was saved.”