Hello,
My name is Harley McDonald. I was a patient at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital in January 2022. I received extraordinary care while I was there after sustaining 3rd and 4th degree burns to over 90% of my body after the cabin we were sleeping in caught on fire. Thanks to my friend, Lucas, I was able to survive that night after he risked his life to save mine. We were both transferred to Iowa City to the University of Iowa’s Burn Treatment Center.
While I was at the hospital, the doctors and staff assessed my injuries and realized I needed more critical care, so I was transferred to the Pediatric ICU floor, or PICU. They knew nothing of me, other than I was a 15-year-old boy in need of immediate care. They took me to room #314… I was an avid motocross rider since the age of 8, my race number was #314! What are the odds that they chose that room for me? By then, my parents had arrived and were told I only had a 20% chance of surviving my injuries and that I probably wouldn’t make it through the night.. they didn’t know me very well.. 😊 You see, I was 15 and ran on my own schedule. I wasn’t ready to leave just yet!
While I was in the PICU, my family and friends shared stories about me with my team of doctors and nurses, giving them a glimpse into my life as I was before this accident. They soon realized that I was a fighter and knew our fight wasn’t over yet. Those first 72 hours were rough though, I endured a lot of emergency surgeries and procedures trying to keep my body going. My parents fought hard for me as I couldn’t speak for myself then. The doctors and nurses were so kind and understanding and they were constantly brainstorming ideas on ways to help me. My team worked endlessly around the clock trying to stay ahead of anything that happened from infections to blood clots to blood pressures and everything in between.
On January 13th, it was discovered that I had a large tear in my esophagus that had been leaking my nutritional supplement into my lung cavity due to the disintegration of the tissue from the severity of the burns inside my mouth and throat. By this time, I had been very unstable, and they knew I was not going to be able to survive another surgery. The choice was made to leave me be, let me rest, and enjoy time with my family.
January 14th, 2022, it was the day we said goodbye. Throughout the day, my team of doctors and nurses came in to tell my parents how sorry they were, because there was nothing else they could do for me. They enjoyed listening to my parents and sisters tell stories of me as they watched the snow fall outside my window. They told everyone how perfect the day was as I loved the snow and riding my snowmobile. I truly could not have asked for a better team to take care of me. At 6:51pm, with my family by my side, I took my last breath on this earth and gained my wings, free of the pain and suffering I had endured over the last 13 days.
My family’s goal is to have room #314 named in memory of me, Harley McDonald. It is their wish that everyone remembers the spirit of the 15 year old boy from Scranton, Iowa and how he impacted the many lives he touched in his time here on earth.
The money raised will go towards the continuing education efforts for the doctors, surgeons, and nursing staff in the PICU and Burn Treatment Center. Our mission is to keep the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital and University of Iowa’s Burn Treatment Center one of the best in the region. Our primary goal is $100,000 which will help fund further education and provide the tools necessary for these individuals to stay up to date with the latest technology and knowledge to help the patients they care for now and in the future. We hope you will join us in our fundraising efforts to give back to these 2 areas as we strive for a better tomorrow.
The impact of your gift will improve treatments for future patients in the following ways:
- Continuing Education for Doctors, Surgeons, Nursing staff in the PICU and Burn Treatment Centers
- Scholarship opportunities for the fellowship students interested in the PICU and Burn Treatment careers
NOTICE: The University of Iowa Center for Advancement is an operational name for the State University of Iowa Foundation, an independent, Iowa nonprofit corporation organized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, publicly supported charitable entity working to advance the University of Iowa. Please review its full disclosure statement.
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