Julio Dominguez to Celebrate “Home Run For Life” with OKC Baseball Club
Retired U.S. Army officer shares miraculous story; Will be recognized before Friday’s OKC Baseball Club game at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark
Julio Dominguez struggled to breathe and collapsed at his home in February 2021.
He was rushed to the INTEGRIS Health Edmond Hospital emergency room via ambulance where he tested positive for both COVID-19 and pneumonia.
The now-retired U.S. Army officer will be honored Friday, July 12 as the INTEGRIS Health “Home Run For Life” series continues during the 2024 OKC Baseball Club season at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.
“Home Run For Life” recognizes individuals in the community who have overcome a significant medical event with the help of their families, physicians and health care professionals. To symbolize the end of their battle against adversity, honorees take a home run “lap” around the bases during a pregame ceremony.
At the hospital, Dominguez’s body would not respond to medicine or a ventilator and his heart and lungs could not function on their own.
He was quickly transferred to the Nazih Zuhdi Transplant Institute at INTEGRIS Health Baptist Medical Center.
Dominguez underwent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO for short. The treatment essentially acts as a working set of heart and lungs for patients in critical condition and is often considered a “last hope” for critical patients.
“It saved my life,” he said.
While undergoing treatment, Dominguez spent 56 days in a medically induced coma as his body recovered and his lungs and heart rested and healed.
Dominguez stayed in the hospital for almost 90 days and is beyond grateful for the care and support the staff and physicians at INTEGRIS Health provided him.
He is one of more than 1,000 patients whose lives have been saved thanks to the INTEGRIS Health ECMO program, headquartered at the Nazih Zuhdi Transplant Institute at INTEGRIS Health Baptist Medical Center.
“If it wasn’t for INTEGRIS, I wouldn’t be here,” he said. “The things they did were remarkable.”
Dominguez has since been medically discharged from the military as he continues his recovery and his experience has given him a new perspective on life.
“I’m just lucky to be here,” he said.
Dominguez now has more time to spend with his family, including his six children. He even plans to coauthor a book about his medical miracle with his wife Megan.
He echoes his contagious positivity to everyone he meets and looks forward to everything life has to offer.
“It’s a blessing and journey,” Dominguez said.
