ELLICOTTVILLE, N.Y. -- A West Seneca woman says a trip to the doctor in May 2016 for "flu-like symptoms” ended with heart failure.

Jennifer Bardrof, 34, was rushed to Mercy Hospital a short time later and eventually had to be airlifted to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

Doctors there had to place her on an ECMO machine to give her heart and lungs a break.

After weeks of treatment, she was released and began her long journey to recovery.

Bardrof is an avid runner and has completed several major races since her illness, including Saturday’s EVL 5K in Ellicottville.

"For my two-year anniversary, I really want to try and do the Buffalo Marathon. That is my goal and I have to get doctor approval, obviously, and I'm still working on my doctors,” said Bardrof.

She credits the partnership between those regional hospitals with saving her life.