• Stories by Subject
  • Stories by State
  • COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS

Adrianne Ayers to Celebrate “Home Run For Life” with OKC Dodgers and INTEGRIS Health Saturday

August 26, 2021

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

Oklahoma City — The Oklahoma City Dodgers and INTEGRIS Health continue the “Home Run For Life” series Saturday by honoring Adrianne Ayers of Midwest City, Okla., during the Dodgers’ 7:05 p.m. game against the Las Vegas Aviators at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

Ayers, a registered nurse, fell ill with the flu in February 2018. Several days later her health spiraled to the point where one of her children had to call 911 and Ayers was taken to the hospital.

“They told us had he not called 911, I might not have made it through the night,” Ayers recalled.

In addition to flu, Ayers had developed pneumonia and strep throat so severe that her body went septic. She developed necrotizing pneumonia, a severe complication from a bacterial lung infection that can cause lung tissue damage. Her lungs, heart and kidneys were all shutting down.

It was determined that extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, known as ECMO, was necessary for Ayers’ survival and she was transferred to INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center, which specializes in ECMO, to receive the last-resort, lifesaving treatment. ECMO provides both cardiac and respiratory support to patients whose heart and/or lungs are so severely diseased or damaged that they can no longer serve their function. The goal is to allow the heart or lungs to rest and recover while the machine does all the work.

“What it does is takes the blood out of the body on one side and puts oxygen into it and then flows back into your body through different tubes,” Ayers said. “It’s almost like dialysis — in one side and out the other.”

Ayers ended up on ECMO for an INTEGRIS Health record 119 days — just one piece of the extensive multi-disciplinary care she received during her five months in the hospital.

“Home Run For Life” recognizes individuals in the Oklahoma City 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 prerecorded home run “lap” around the bases during an in-game ceremony.

“’Home Run For Life’ allows us to uniquely recognize some amazing Oklahomans who have endured significant health challenges,” OKC Dodgers President/General Manager Michael Byrnes said. “Each month during the baseball season, we are proud to partner with INTEGRIS Health to honor the perseverance and courage displayed by these individuals and to help inspire others with their incredible stories.”

Throughout her five months at INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center, Ayers was also on a ventilator, had a tracheostomy and was on dialysis in addition to ECMO. There was talk of potential double kidney and lung transplants for her.

Ayers was enrolled in the ATHOS 3 Expanded Access Protocol for Giapreza clinical trial for a medication that regulates blood pressure, becoming one of 10 patients in the world to have received the therapy while on ECMO at the time. She also became the first patient in the OKC area to benefit from an off-label use of Olympus Spiration endobronchial valves, which were inserted into her lungs, opening breathing passageways like they would an artery during a cardiac procedure.

One special moment especially stands out in Ayers’ mind to describe the depth and range of care she received at INTEGRIS Health.

“The doctors and nurses at INTEGRIS are amazing. They are saints,” she said. “There was one point where I was tired and I was tired of fighting and I was tired of everything going on and (one of the doctors) took me outside just to get some vitamin D. Anytime they took me anywhere in the hospital it was a huge ordeal because I had the ECMO machine and dialysis and the vent and the chair, so it was like a small parade going down the hallway.

“Just for a doctor to do that, I can’t say enough good things about them…They are just amazing people.”

Ayers was released from the hospital in July 2018 and still undergoes frequent checkups. There is a possibility in the future she will need a lung transplant, but says she is doing well now. Ayers, 44, returned to work as a RN at St. Anthony in April 2021 and said she brings a new perspective with her to work after all she has been through.

“I have always been a patient person with patients and am even more so now,” she said. “I can’t even explain it. It’s like you walk into a room and see both points of view at the same time. You can empathize even small things, like tape coming off an IV. After it’s done 100 times, that hurts.

“It’s weird, but I am thankful for everything I have been through because I think it makes me relate to patients better.”

To read Ayers’ full story, visit the OKC Dodgers’ “Beyond the Bricks” website at: medium.com/beyond-the-bricks.

Tonight, the OKC Dodgers return home to open a 12-game homestand as well as a six-game home series against the Las Vegas Aviators at 7:05 p.m. The series continues at 7:05 p.m. Friday when Dodgers players and coaches will wear special pink jerseys and hats that will be auctioned off to benefit Susan G. Komen Oklahoma as the Dodgers and MidFirst Bank team up to “Pack the Park Pink.” A pink fireworks show will follow the game.

Saturday’s 7:05 p.m. game falls on Marvel Super Hero Night, presented by Courtyard by Marriott, and Star-Lord and Black Widow will make special appearances throughout the night. Ayers’ “Home Run For Life” will also be recognized during Saturday’s game. Kids can run the bases following Sunday’s 6:05 p.m. game. The series against Las Vegas then wraps up at 7:05 p.m. Monday and at 7:05 p.m. on a $2 Tuesday, featuring $2 select beer, soda and bottled water from a line of Budweiser and Pepsi products. COOP Ale Works draft beer will also be available at a special rate of $3. The OKC Dodgers then remain home for a six-game series against the Albuquerque Isotopes Thursday, Sept. 2 – Tuesday, Sept. 7 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

Tickets can be purchased through okcdodgers.com/tickets. For general information or inquiries, please visit okcdodgers.com or call (405) 218-2182. Live radio coverage of each OKC Dodgers game begins 15 minutes before first pitch on AM 1340 “The Game,” 1340thegame.com and through the free iHeartRadio or MiLB First Pitch apps. All OKC Dodgers games are also available streamed live on MiLB.TV with a subscription.

Tagged as : Home Run for Life, Los Angeles Dodgers, Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Dodgers, Pacific Coast League, Public Recognition/Celebrations/Events { }

Welcome to clubphilanthropy.com!

Minor League Baseball clubs have been actively involved in their communities for many years. For the first time, their activities and contributions will be chronicled on this site.

Clubs don’t publicize all of their activity, so these stories represent a mere fraction of the contributions MiLB clubs make to their communities every year.

Categories

  • ►Aberdeen Ironbirds (3)
  • ►Akron RubberDucks (30)
  • ►Albuquerque Isotopes (21)
  • ►Altoona Curve (20)
  • ►Amarillo Sod Poodles (14)
  • ►Arkansas Travelers (2)
  • ►Asheville Tourists (4)
  • ►Auburn Doubledays (4)
  • ►Augusta GreenJackets (22)
  • ►Batavia Muckdogs (15)
  • ►Beloit Snappers (16)
  • ►Biloxi Shuckers (20)
  • ►Binghamtom Rumble Ponies (4)
  • ►Birmingham Barons (16)
  • ►Bluefield Blue Jays (4)
  • ►Boise Hawks (8)
  • ►Bowie Baysox (28)
  • ►Bowling Green Hot Rods (12)
  • ►Bradenton Marauders (22)
  • ►Bristol Pirates (3)
  • ►Brooklyn Cyclones (22)
  • ►Buffalo Bisons (38)
  • ►Burlington Bees (6)
  • ►Burlington Royals (2)
  • ►Carolina Mudcats (17)
  • ►Cedar Rapids Kernels (39)
  • ►Charleston Dirty Birds (1)
  • ►Charleston RiverDogs (93)
  • ►Charlotte Knights (26)
  • ►Charlotte Stone Crabs (6)
  • ►Chattanooga Lookouts (2)
  • ►Clearwater Threshers (40)
  • ►Clinton LumberKings (5)
  • ►Colorado Springs Sky Sox (20)
  • ►Columbia Fireflies (36)
  • ►Columbus Clippers (8)
  • ►Connecticut Tigers (14)
  • ►Corpus Christi Hooks (32)
  • ►Danville Braves (15)
  • ►Dayton Dragons (126)
  • ►Daytona Tortugas (21)
  • ►Delmarva Shorebirds (60)
  • ►Down East Wood Ducks (3)
  • ►Dunedin Blue Jays (14)
  • ►Durham Bulls (18)
  • ►El Paso Chihuahuas (19)
  • ►Elizabethton Twins (4)
  • ►Erie SeaWolves (12)
  • ►Eugene Emeralds (10)
  • ►Everett AquaSox (10)
  • ►Fayetteville Woodpeckers (11)
  • ►Florida Fire Frogs (3)
  • ►Fort Myers Miracle (25)
  • ►Fort Wayne TinCaps (53)
  • ►Frederick Keys (19)
  • ►Fredericksburg Nationals (28)
  • ►Fresno Grizzlies (17)
  • ►Frisco RoughRiders (27)
  • ►Grand Junction Rockies (2)
  • ►Great Falls Voyagers (2)
  • ►Great Lakes Loons (27)
  • ►Greensboro Grasshoppers (5)
  • ►Greenville Drive (110)
  • ►Gwinnett Stripers (50)
  • ►Hagerstown Suns (3)
  • ►Harrisburg Senators (13)
  • ►Hartford Yard Goats (10)
  • ►Hickory Crawdads (25)
  • ►Hillsboro Hops (12)
  • ►Hudson Valley Renegades (7)
  • ►Idaho Falls Chukars (6)
  • ►Indianapolis Indians (29)
  • ►Inland Empire 66ers (13)
  • ►Iowa Cubs (7)
  • ►Jackson Generals (9)
  • ►Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (41)
  • ►Jersey Shore BlueClaws (136)
  • ►Johnson City Cardinals (4)
  • ►Jupiter Hammerheads (2)
  • ►Kane County Cougars (41)
  • ►Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (18)
  • ►Kingsport Mets (1)
  • ►Lake County Captains (10)
  • ►Lake Elsinore Storm (4)
  • ►Lakeland Flying Tigers (12)
  • ►Lancaster JetHawks (7)
  • ►Lansing Lugnuts (2)
  • ►Las Vegas Aviators (9)
  • ►Lehigh Valley IronPigs (41)
  • ►Lexington Legends (69)
  • ►Louisville Bats (23)
  • ►Lowell Spinners (15)
  • ►Lynchburg Hillcats (17)
  • ►Mahoning Valley Scrappers (31)
  • ►Memphis Redbirds (8)
  • ►Midland RockHounds (5)
  • ►MiLB (33)
  • ►Mississippi Braves (29)
  • ►Missoula Paddleheads (19)
  • ►Mobile BayBears (6)
  • ►Modesto Nuts (11)
  • ►Montgomery Biscuits (2)
  • ►Myrtle Beach Pelicans (38)
  • ►Nashville Sounds (28)
  • ►New Hampshire Fisher Cats (32)
  • ►New Orleans Baby Cakes (5)
  • ►Norfolk Tides (18)
  • ►Northwest Arkansas Naturals (47)
  • ►Norwich Sea Unicorns (2)
  • ▼Oklahoma City Dodgers (68)
    • Black History Month: Top Players During OKC's Indians/89ers Era (Part 2)
    • OKC Dodgers Hosting Annual Job Fair This Week
    • Black History Month: Top Players During OKC’s Indians/89ers Era (Part 1)
    • Black History Month: Top 5 Black Players During OKC's Bricktown Era
    • Bike Donation Helps Area Families During Holiday Season
    • OKC Dodgers Give Back
    • Dodgers, USA Softball to Host PLAY BALL Event Oct. 24
    • Each OKC Dodgers Homer Hit During Final Stretch to Benefit Cleats For Kids
    • Timothy Stone to Celebrate “Home Run For Life” with INTEGRIS and OKC Dodgers Friday
    • Join the OKC Dodgers for Military Celebration Night Friday
    • Adrianne Ayers to Celebrate "Home Run For Life" with OKC Dodgers and INTEGRIS Health Saturday
    • OKC Dodgers to "Pack the Park Pink" with MidFirst Bank Friday
    • OKC Dodgers and OHSO Aim to ENDUI and Educate via "Road to the Show" Promotion
    • Brandy Warehime to Celebrate “Home Run For Life” 
    • Students, Teachers Celebrate STEM Achievements at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark
    • OKC Dodgers Baseball Foundation Participating in MiLB CommUNITY First Campaign
    • OKC Dodgers and LifeShare of Oklahoma Encourage Organ Donation Through Continued Partnership in 2020
    • Annual OKC Dodgers High School Baseball Series Returns This Week
    • Deadline Approaching for OKC Dodgers Rookie League Registration
    • OKC Dodgers Announce Plans to Honor 25th Anniversary of Oklahoma City Bombing
    • OKC Dodgers Hosting Annual Job Fair February 27 & 29
    • Registration Now Open For 2020 National Anthem Tryouts
    • OKC Dodgers and MidFirst Bank Present "Pack the Park Pink" T-shirt Design Contest
    • Registration Open for OKC Dodgers Rookie League 2020 Season
    • Free STEM-Based OKC Dodgers MVP Program Enters Fourth Year
    • OKC Dodgers Offering Community Match Ticket Sale During Thanksgiving Week
    • Makynlee Culbertson to Celebrate "Home Run For Life" with OKC Dodgers Friday
    • OKC Dodgers and LifeShare of Oklahoma Partner to Encourage Organ Donation
    • OKC Dodgers Baseball Foundation Hosting Trivia Night March 30
    • OKC Dodgers Baseball Foundation Helps Provide Winter Coats to Area Elementary Students
    • Paul Ferguson to Celebrate "Home Run For Life" Friday with OKC Dodgers
    • OBI All-American Blood Drive Saturday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark
    • Emily Rose Hollins to Celebrate "Home Run For Life" Saturday with OKC Dodgers
    • OKC Dodgers and Kimray Partner to Create Kimray Kids Program
    • OKC Dodgers and OHSO Aim to ENDUI with "Road to the Show" Promotion
    • Culmination of OKC Dodgers MVP Program Presented by Devon Energy Saturday
    • OKC Dodgers Host Hometown Heroes Military Celebration Night Friday
    • Matthew Mattocks to Celebrate "Home Run For Life" Friday with OKC Dodgers
    • OKC Dodgers Partner with LifeShare of Oklahoma to Encourage Organ Donation
    • Stacie Daniel to Celebrate "Home Run For Life" Saturday with OKC Dodgers
    • Deadline Approaching For Area Teachers to Sign Up For MVP Program
    • OKC Dodgers and Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation Announce Formation of OKC Dodgers Rookie League
    • OKC Dodgers to Host Free Child Car Seat Check Saturday
    • Lindsay Dennis to Celebrate Home Run For Life Saturday with OKC Dodgers
    • OKC Dodgers to Host Hometown Heroes Military Celebration Night Friday
    • Dodgers and MidFirst Bank to "Pack the Park Pink" Friday as Part of 20th Season Celebration Weekend
    • Erik Macke to Celebrate "Home Run For Life" Friday
    • OBI All-American Blood Drive Saturday in Bricktown
    • Baby Cakes, EJGH team up for Scalise blood drive
    • Staci Johnson to Celebrate "Home Run For Life" Saturday
    • MVP Program Rewards STEM Achievements of Local Students
    • OKC Dodgers to Host Hometown Heroes Military Celebration Night Friday
    • Brandi Rutherford to Celebrate "Home Run For Life" Friday
    • OKC Dodgers and American Fidelity to Honor All-Stars in Civic Service
    • OKC Dodgers to Honor Esurance Rising Star Students Program Winner
    • OKC Dodgers and OHSO Aim to ENDUI Through "Road to the Show" Promotion
    • Teague Moore to Celebrate "Home Life For Life" Saturday with OKC Dodgers
    • OKC Dodgers Hosting Fan Fest and CommUNITY Run Saturday
    • OKC Dodgers Introduce Inaugural CommUNITY Run
    • OKC Dodgers to Host Free Car Seat Check Saturday
    • Dodgers to Honor Girl Scouts Western Oklahoma as Chesapeake Community All-Stars
    • Kela Robinson Celebrates "Home Run For Life" Opening Night with the OKC Dodgers
    • OKC Dodgers Announce Faith Night
    • "Anchor the Anchors" Child Car Seat Event Saturday
    • RedHawks Join Greater Oklahoma City Sports Consortium
    • United Way Pancake Breakfast
    • All-American Blood Drive
    • The Heart Walk
  • ►Omaha Storm Chasers (51)
  • ►Orem Owlz (3)
  • ►Palm Beach Cardinals (4)
  • ►Pawtucket Red Sox (67)
  • ►Pensacola Blue Wahoos (50)
  • ►Peoria Chiefs (12)
  • ►Portland Sea Dogs (45)
  • ►Princeton Rays (7)
  • ►Pulaski Yankees (17)
  • ►Quad Cities River Bandits (24)
  • ►Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (9)
  • ►Reading Fightin Phils (72)
  • ►Reno Aces (37)
  • ►Richmond Flying Squirrels (34)
  • ►Rochester Red Wings (26)
  • ►Rocket City Trash Pandas (8)
  • ►Rocky Mountain Vibes (2)
  • ►Rome Braves (27)
  • ►Round Rock Express (34)
  • ►Sacramento River Cats (25)
  • ►Salem Red Sox (13)
  • ►Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (8)
  • ►Salt Lake Bees (38)
  • ►San Antonio Missions (12)
  • ►San Jose Giants (39)
  • ►Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (55)
  • ►Somerset Patriots (13)
  • ►South Bend Cubs (58)
  • ►Spokane Indians (26)
  • ►Springfield Cardinals (42)
  • ►St. Lucie Mets (16)
  • ►St. Paul Saints (5)
  • ►State College Spikes (23)
  • ►Staten Island Yankees (16)
  • ►Stockton Ports (18)
  • ►Sugar Land Space Cowboys (3)
  • ►Syracuse Mets (15)
  • ►Tacoma Rainiers (6)
  • ►Tampa Tarpons (34)
  • ►Tennessee Smokies (24)
  • ►Toledo Mud Hens (47)
  • ►Trenton Thunder (22)
  • ►Tri-City Dust Devils (2)
  • ►Tri-City ValleyCats (28)
  • ►Tulsa Drillers (25)
  • ►Vancouver Canadians (25)
  • ►Vermont Lake Monsters (22)
  • ►Visalia Rawhide (7)
  • ►West Michigan Whitecaps (8)
  • ►West Virginia Black Bears (1)
  • ►West Virginia Power (11)
  • ►Wichita Wind Surge (4)
  • ►Williamsport Crosscutters (46)
  • ►Wilmington Blue Rocks (30)
  • ►Winston-Salem Dash (32)
  • ►Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (76)
  • ►Worcester Red Sox (18)