The 2019 “Beyond the Limits” Holiday Gala was an enormous success - grossing nearly $3 million - thanks to the engagement of hundreds of inspired community members, dozens of physician partners and our dynamic gala chairs: George O’Connell and Dr. Mathew Kaplan, Medical Director of Emergency Services at Mission Hospital and CHOC at Mission.
The funds raised at the event will support the critical expansion of Mission Hospital’s Emergency Department – a project fully funded by the philanthropic generosity of our community.
One of many thrilling moments of the evening included the inspirational patient stories of Wade Sundell and Lisa Foto. Wade was the reigning Saddle Bronc Riding World Champion at last summer’s Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo. While mounting his first bronc, Wade’s chest and abdomen were crushed into the chute when the horse suddenly reared up.
“At first I thought I was OK,” Wade remembers, “I had no idea that my liver was lacerated and I needed immediate trauma care.” An onsite Mission Hospital emergency medicine physician saw the incident and convinced Wade that he needed to go to the Trauma Center at Mission Hospital right away.
“Mission Hospital truly saved my life,” Wade shared. “When I arrived at Mission I was taken into the operating room immediately. My blood volume was replaced 1.5 times as they repaired by severely damaged liver. I spent two weeks in a medically-induced coma and visited the operating room several more times, but ultimately, I woke up to see my beautiful girlfriend, Shelby. And thanks to Mission Hospital, Shelby and I can watch our two-year son grow up together. I can’t thank you enough.”
That inspiring story was followed later by Lisa’s amazing story of hope and healing. Twelve years ago Lisa survived a ruptured brain aneurysm. “On a severity scale of 1 to 10, my hemorrhage was a 10,” shared Lisa. “I was a patient at Mission Hospital for 52 days, and I spent five weeks of that in a medically-induced coma in the surgical intensive care unit.”
“My recovery was the most challenging thing that I have ever faced, but thanks to Mission Hospital, I’ve made a complete recovery. Since then I watched two of my three children get married and celebrated the birth of all five of my grandchildren. I never would have known the joy of being a grandmother if Mission Hospital had not saved my life.”
The funds raised at the Holiday Gala will enable Mission Hospital to expand the Emergency Department and ensure that we have the capacity of expertise to care for our community when they need us most.
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