COVID-19 complications affected Alina’s heart and caused the cardiac arrest on Jan.
She was placed on an ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) machine before being transferred from a hospital near her home in Pearsall to Texas Children’s on Jan.
Pediatricians and children’s hospitals have reported an uptick in young, recovered COVID-19 patients with lingering heart problems.Originally from Port Neches, Texas, Julie has worked as a community journalist in South Texas cities since 2010.