Fourth Annual Palko Blood Drive Comes To Moorestown Jan. 21

MOORESTOWN, NJ — It’s been just over three years since Victoria Palko survived a near-death experience, and she’s been working to give back to those who saved her ever since.

"December 13, 2013 was the worst day of my life,” Victoria’s mother, Laurie Palko, recently told the other members of the Moorestown Breakfast Rotary Club. “I found my normally healthy 19-year-old daughter, Victoria, cold, blue and near death due to complications from pneumonia. I couldn’t wake her as she had collapsed lungs and was in septic shock.”

Victoria Palko, who was the club’s guest speaker on this occasion, fought for her life for the next two months. She was in a coma, and an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine kept her alive by serving as her lungs for 21 days.

“Not only did the ECMO machine save her life, but so did the hundreds of blood products she consumed, as well as the brilliance, perseverance and compassion of the medical staff caring for her,” Laurie Palko said. “Victoria had to learn to breath, eat and walk on her own again. Thanks to many miracles and the toughest girl I’ve ever met, Victoria is now fully recovered and leading a normal life."

The Palkos say they are blessed to have their daughter with them today, and want to show their appreciation by giving back to those who saved her life, with the hopes of saving others.

The doctors at Penn Presbyterian hospital began a Lung Rescue Program to bring these life-saving ECMO machines, in a mobile size, to sick individuals who need to be moved, as there is great risk during the transport process.

The Palkos also host an annual blood drive in Moorestown to help estock this life-saving product. The fourth annual Palko Blood Drive takes place on Saturday, Jan. 21, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Moorestown Community House.

Every unit donated can save three lives. Walk-ins are welcome, but anyone who would like to make an appointment can do so by visiting http://tinyurl.com/bdpalko or calling 609-273-4217.

Anyone who would like to make a donation to the Victoria Palko Lung Rescue Program can send a check, made out to “Trustees of University of Pennsylvania,” to the following address:

Penn Medicine Development
Attn: Sheryl Garton
3535 Market Street, Suite 750
Philadelphia, PA 19104

The attached image was provided by the Moorestown Breakfast Rotary Club: Laurie Palko - Rotary Member, Victoria Palko - Featured Speaker, Dr. Ben Blank - Rotary President.