Annoucing our August Makana Pono Awardee
Posted on August 8, 2022
Makana Pono: Employee Giving Program
Cheryl M.
QAPI assistant CNA
Organization: Kapiolani Pediatric ICU
Open Court Basketball Team
“My heart sank, and I quickly headed to Kapiolani Hospital. When I arrived, Carmyne’s mom was in the PICU waiting room sitting in a corner wrapped up in a blanket. She was there all alone as her husband was away on military duty..."
Cheryl M. at QAPI assistant is our August Makana Pono awardee. She selected Kapiolani Pediatric ICU to receive the $5,000 donation after they helped a dear family friend through a harrowing experience in 2018.
Cheryl’s son plays basketball for a youth club that has become their second family. When his basketball teammate, Carmyne, collapsed in his family’s home after a fundraiser one evening, firefighters and EMS arrived on scene and rushed him to the hospital. He was transferred to Kapiolani’s Pediatric ICU where they placed him on life support on an ECMO or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine. He was diagnosed with Myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart that could have been caused by a simple cold virus.
“My heart sank, and I quickly headed to Kapiolani Hospital. When I arrived, Carmyne’s mom was in the PICU waiting room sitting in a corner wrapped up in a blanket. She was there all alone as her husband was away on military duty,” recalled Cheryl. “All I can remember is her turning to me and telling me ‘Cheryl, they told me to tell him Goodbye.’ I was devastated. I couldn't believe what was happening, we were all together just hours before and he was fine.”
Over the next few weeks, Carmyne’s family and the basketball team camped out in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) waiting room waiting for news. Thankfully, a few months later Carmyne was released.
Cheryl credits the quick response and rehabilitation by Kapiolani for saving her son’s teammate and getting him back on the court saying, “If it wasn't for the doctors, nurses and their medical equipment, Carmyne wouldn't be here with us today. Thank you, Kapiolani.”
Cheryl’s son plays basketball for a youth club that has become their second family. When his basketball teammate, Carmyne, collapsed in his family’s home after a fundraiser one evening, firefighters and EMS arrived on scene and rushed him to the hospital. He was transferred to Kapiolani’s Pediatric ICU where they placed him on life support on an ECMO or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine. He was diagnosed with Myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart that could have been caused by a simple cold virus.
“My heart sank, and I quickly headed to Kapiolani Hospital. When I arrived, Carmyne’s mom was in the PICU waiting room sitting in a corner wrapped up in a blanket. She was there all alone as her husband was away on military duty,” recalled Cheryl. “All I can remember is her turning to me and telling me ‘Cheryl, they told me to tell him Goodbye.’ I was devastated. I couldn't believe what was happening, we were all together just hours before and he was fine.”
Over the next few weeks, Carmyne’s family and the basketball team camped out in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) waiting room waiting for news. Thankfully, a few months later Carmyne was released.
Cheryl credits the quick response and rehabilitation by Kapiolani for saving her son’s teammate and getting him back on the court saying, “If it wasn't for the doctors, nurses and their medical equipment, Carmyne wouldn't be here with us today. Thank you, Kapiolani.”