A Warwick mother and emergency room nurse is thankful for a prior procedure she says helped save her daughter's life from coronavirus.

Kaley Smith, 14, has lived lissencephaly since she was just months old. It is a rare brain disorder that resulted in a tracheostomy at 2 years old for Kaley.

The procedure was permanent, providing Kaley with a secure airway and the ability to swallow.

In early March, Kaley contracted coronavirus, and due to having a compromised immune system, her mother Kerryann says the tracheostomy is what ultimately saved her daughter's life.

Kaley's pediatrician, Dr. Maureen McKenna, says she had mucus clots, which are what coronavirus patients typically succumb to.

McKenna says many health care providers use a tracheostomy as a last resort for treatment even as nearly one-fourth of confirmed coronavirus deaths are older adults.

Kaley has since recovered with the help of her mother.

MORE: LIVE BLOG - Coronavirus updates from the tri-state area and beyond 
PHOTOS: COVID-19 impacts the world