Krystal DeVos was overcome with emotion as she observed her daughter Eliana joyfully playing with her beloved Ariel doll. DeVos smiles and explains, “She’s my little mermaid.” In addition to her fondness for the sea-themed toy, Eliana’s nickname is appropriate because a marine-based medical advancement saved her life not long after she was born.
Eliana had a long and uncertain journey ahead of her because she was born a pound underweight and 23 weeks prematurely. Problems soon surfaced during her more than four months in neonatal critical care. One of these was a serious neck infection that started to kill her tissue and cause full-body symptoms. From their Corpus Christi, Texas, home, DeVos recounted, “It seemed like her own body was attacking itself.”
A Wound Few Treatments Could Heal
As Eliana’s condition worsened, traditional surgeries were too risky. On her 86th day in intensive care, doctors at Driscoll Children’s Hospital turned to an unusual solution—fish skin grafts made from wild North Atlantic cod by Kerecis. Mimicking human skin, the graft encouraged healing and naturally dissolved. To avoid invasive methods, Dr. Vanessa Dimas and nurse Roxana Reyna cleaned the wound with sterile honey before applying the fish skin, leading to a surprisingly swift recovery.
Fast Results, Minimal Scarring
The crew saw notable progress in just three days. The wound had healed without any issues after ten days of care. Eliana’s scar is hardly noticeable now, and no additional procedures were required. When we began the treatment, she weighed just three pounds, according to Reyna. “Since then, we’ve gained enough confidence to apply this technique to even younger babies.”
The medical community has taken notice of their accomplishment. Eliana’s case and that of another severely ill newborn were highlighted by the scientists when they presented their findings at the European Wound Management Association Conference in Barcelona.
Innovation in Pediatric Wound Care
Worldwide, fish skin has been used to treat wounds in adults, but it is still rare to use it on premature babies. The approach shows potential, according to experts like Dr. Arun Gosain of Chicago’s Lurie Children’s Hospital, who was not involved in Eliana’s care. Dr. Gosain explained that biologic dressings like fish or pig skin, known as xenografts, support natural healing but don’t regenerate skin. Dr. Dimas noted a concern about allergic reactions, as infant allergies to fish are often unknown—though Eliana had no adverse effects.
A Story of Hope and Faith
Now, Eliana is doing well; she is lively, playful, and oblivious to the medical marvel that enabled her to recover. One day, her parents hope to tell her the tale. DeVos has learned courage, hope, and science from the experience. “Our daughter had a chance because of this treatment,” she stated. “It taught us to believe in possibilities and trust new ideas, even if they seem unfamiliar.”
She believes that people will be encouraged to remain receptive to new ideas by Eliana’s path. “Healing can sometimes come from the most unlikely places, like the sea.”
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