In the News: CNN Highlights Driscoll’s Use of Fish Skin to Heal NICU Baby

CNN Health is spotlighting Driscoll Children’s Hospital for a remarkable case in which a fish skin graft helped heal a life-threatening wound on a preterm infant.

Born at just 23 weeks and weighing only one pound, Eliana faced overwhelming odds— including a severe infection on her neck. When traditional treatments proved too risky, Driscoll Pediatric Plastic Surgeon Dr. Vanessa Dimas and Nurse Practitioner Roxana Reyna turned to an unconventional solution: fish skin grafts.

Driscoll Pediatric Plastic Surgeon Dr. Vanessa Dimas and Nurse Practitioner Roxana Reyna assemble the use of the Kerecisf fish skin graft. The product is mixed with medical-grade honey to treat hard-to-heal wounds.

Now 3 years old, Eliana is thriving. And her story, told to CNN by health journalist Jacqueline Howard, has captured the hearts of viewers:

In March, Dr. Dimas and Nurse Reyna traveled to the European Wound Management Association Conference in Barcelona, Spain. They presented data from two complex cases that used the fish skin graft: Eliana, and another critically ill preterm infant born who weighed just one pound when the graft was applied. Dr. Dimas and Reyna hope their stories will continue to help other patients and medical professionals.

A written version of Eliana's story is available on CNN to subscribers.

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