DHR Health ECMO Team Hosts Special Graduation Ceremony for Families

Edinburg, Texas: DHR Health proudly hosted a heartfelt graduation ceremony on June 9 to honor three students: Robert Adame from Rio Hondo Middle School, Kaylynn Adame from Rio Hondo High School, and Jose Manuel Acosta Jr. from IDEA San Juan College Prep. The event took place in the Discharge Lounge at DHR Health’s Main Hospital and brought together the graduates, their families, and the dedicated DHR Health ECMO team. 
Bobbie Adame, mother of Robert and Kaylynn, has been hospitalized for the past month and remains on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), a form of advanced life support. Due to her condition, she was unable to attend her children’s official graduation ceremonies. This special event gave her the chance to witness them graduate and celebrate their accomplishments. Jose Manuel Acosta Jr., who was previously on ECMO and is continuing to recover, also missed his high school graduation. This ceremony gave him the opportunity to receive his diploma and be recognized for his hard work and perseverance.
“Graduation is one of life’s most cherished milestones,” said Dr. Andrew Phillips, DHR Health intensivist and medical director of the ECMO program, who served as emcee for the ceremony. “No mother should miss seeing her children graduate, and no student should be denied their moment to shine. It was an honor to help make that possible and to celebrate the strength and resilience of our patients.”
The ceremony featured a special congressional recognition presented by Victor Garza, senior outreach coordinator for the office of Congressman Vicente Gonzalez, as well as a heartfelt speech from Bobbie Adame, who expressed deep gratitude for the lifesaving care and unwavering support she received from the DHR Health team.
“We knew how important this moment was—not just for the graduates, but for their families,” said Jennifer Tobar, ECMO coordinator at DHR Health. “Our goal was to create a meaningful celebration that allowed both families to come together and celebrate this milestone during a difficult time. It was a beautiful moment that brought joy and hope to everyone there.”
Launched in February 2023, the DHR Health ECMO program offers advanced life support for patients with severe heart or lung failure and remains the only program of its kind in the Rio Grande Valley. A multidisciplinary team provides around-the-clock bedside care and supports regional hospitals by coordinating patient transfers or initiating ECMO treatment on-site when necessary. The program has also played a key role in DHR Health’s designation as a Level I Trauma Center and its Joint Commission certification in respiratory failure.
For more information about the ECMO program at DHR Health, please call (956) 362-3266 (ECMO).