B101.5 Care-A-Thon 2023. Donate Now, Donate Early! Click Here!! B101.5's Care-A-Thon: Your Support Helps Children Grow Up Stronger Helping Mariana to Live Life to the Fullest Mariana began to have trouble breathing four hours after she was born. She was airlifted to Children's National Hospital via its rapid helicopter transport service known as SkyBear. Doctors in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) diagnosed her with persistent pulmonary hypertension, a dangerous condition that prevented her lungs from getting enough oxygen after birth. They put Mariana on oxygen support and she received specialized care during her month-long hospital stay. Today, she is a bubbly elementary schooler who loves to paint, play outside and sing with her sister, Gabriela. Mariana says, "I want to be an orthopedic surgeon when I grow up, and I want to go to Georgetown University." Children's National neonatology program has been ranked No. 1 by U.S. News & World Report for