Patient Reunites with the Care Team Who Saved Her Life

Patient Reunites with the Care Team Who Saved Her Life

At 32 years old, Marlin Santana was finishing a kickboxing class when she experienced chest pains that turned out to be a severe heart attack

Oct 22, 2026

Bronx, NY - At 32 years old, Marlin Santana was finishing a kickboxing class when she experienced severe chest pains.

"My chest felt like it was on fire. My arms felt heavy, like they were weighed down by thousands of pounds, and it was hard to breathe," said Santana.

She called her older brother, who suggested she head to the Emergency Room at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi | North Central Bronx. The care team conducted emergency surgery and the placed an Impella device in her heart to increase blood flow.

At Jacobi, an abnormal echocardiogram led Santana's care team to expand from two to 11 team members, immediately. Following the diagnosis and emergency intervention, Santana was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for nine days, where her care team took to the time to educate her on what happened, the care provided, and what to expect next.

"Marlin's case was unusual because she is a young female without any common heart disease risk factors-though she did find out she had diabetes while in the hospital," said NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi | North Central Bronx Director of Cardiology Dr. Seth Sokol. "It was critical that she realized her chest pressure was persistent and needed urgent medical attention, and that our medical staff didn't dismiss her symptoms because of her age or gender. At Jacobi, we evaluate every patient with chest pain with the exact same level of urgency to quickly identify a major heart attack (STEMI), open the blocked blood vessel, and support the heart if in shock while it recovers. That prompt identification and treatment is the true key to survival."

Santana learned she experienced extreme heart failure and that she has diabetes. She also learned that women experience different symptoms of a heart attack than men. Women show more subtle signs such as fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, and back or jaw pain. After her care team identified the problem, Santana underwent emergency procedures to open a clogged heart vessel and to install the Impella heart device to help pump blood to her body, giving her heart more time to recover.

"The Jacobi Hospital team was proactive, ensuring nothing was brushed under the rug," said Santana. "I was scared, but confident in the team."

When the heart cannot pump enough blood and oxygen to vital organs, the Impella heart device supports the heart by temporarily pumping blood on behalf of the patient's heart, alleviating pressure from the heart. This allows the heart's chamber to rest and recover when in shock, while also reducing length of recovery to a fraction of the time. She recovered over the course of three months, with weekly appointments at Jacobi. The hospital became central for Santana's care so she could focus on maintain her health through routine visits, in addition to starting therapy for her mental health.

"When Marlin arrived in the Cardiac Cath Lab, she was visibly frightened, crying, and overwhelmed by what was happening," said Yongyeon Cho, RN at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi Cardiac Cath Lab. "I took a moment to reassure her, telling her that she was in the best hands with our Medical Director and that our entire team was there to take care of her. I wanted her to feel safe and know that she was not alone. As I spoke with her, I could see her begin to calm down and feel more at ease. In moments like these, compassionate care is just as important as the medical treatment we provide. Sometimes, a few reassuring words can make all the difference."

As an active, young woman, Santana was shocked to learn she experienced a heart attack. It was especially concerning because about eight months prior, she unexpectedly lost her father to cancer when his artery completely closed, cutting off his blood flow.

"As a physician assistant, one of the most important parts of my role was not only helping provide the medical care she needed, but also offering reassurance, compassion, and comfort during an understandably frightening and stressful time for her and her loved ones," said Katherine Farinacci, Physician Assistant at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi | North Central Bronx Cardiology. "Moments like these remind us that behind every medical emergency is a person and a family navigating uncertainty, fear, and hope. Witnessing Marlin's progress and remarkable improvement following treatment was incredibly rewarding. Seeing her again in clinic just weeks later, feeling better and greeting us with a smile, was truly amazing. Experiences like hers are a powerful reminder of why we do what we do and the profound impact that timely care, teamwork, and compassion can have on a patient's life."

"It was truly amazing to see her again after discharge and to see how wonderful she looked," said Mabel Asomani, RN at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi | North Central Bronx Inpatient Cardiac Care. "I remember caring for her in the CCU and how she struggled with her appetite. We even made sure to get her some yogurt so she would have something she could enjoy eating. It's those little moments of caring that stay with you as a nurse. She and her family were such a pleasure to care for, and seeing her doing so well today is incredibly rewarding. Moments like these remind us why we became nurses and how meaningful it is to be part of our patients' recovery journeys."

"Being part of the team that cared for Marlin was incredibly meaningful," said Gary Goldsberry, RN at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi | North Central Bronx Cardiac Cath Lab. "Seeing her recovery and hearing how grateful her family was for the care she received reminded me why we do what we do every day. Their appreciation was truly heartfelt and reinforced the importance of teamwork, compassion, and the difference we make in our patients' lives."

"From this experience, I overcame the fear of being fragile and now will accept help from others," said Santana. "I know I have a bigger purpose."

Now that Santana has adopted a new perspective on her personal health and wellness, she's reflected on her health journey, become more curious, and now asks more questions at her doctor visits. Her heart is getting stronger, with the overall function increasing from 35% to 45%, with the average percentage at about 50%. Now, she is pouring more self-love into herself, nurturing and listening to her body, which has also resulted in her losing 17 pounds. This reunion is one example of annual events the Impella team hosts to bring recovered patients back to reunite with the hospital staff and physicians who saved their lives, inspiring others by showing the impact of patient outcomes after discharge.

For more information, please contact (718) 918-5000 for Jacobi Hospital.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Catherine Diaz, NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi | North Central Bronx, 718-918-4879

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About NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi | North Central Bronx
The Jacobi campus of NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi | North Central Bronx is a 457-bed teaching hospital affiliated with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The facility has earned numerous Center of Excellence designations, accreditation, and recognition for its renowned Level 1 Trauma Center, Burn Center, Surgical Intensive Care Unit, regional Stroke Center, Snakebite Treatment Center, Breast Health Center, Bariatric Surgery Center, and Cancer Service. The facility also offers the region's only multi-person hyperbaric chamber, allowing up to nine patients to dive together at one time. Jacobi's Ambulatory Care Pavilion is a stunning complement to its inpatient acute care, allowing staff to provide patients with high-quality service in a modern, state-of-the-art environment. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/jacobi.

The North Central Bronx campus of NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi | North Central Bronx is a member facility of the NYC Health + Hospitals system, one of eleven acute care facilities within the City of New York. A 215-bed community hospital, North Central Bronx Hospital specializes in women's and children's services. It also provides Behavioral Health acute and ambulatory care. Its busy outpatient department has led the way in community-based care delivered in a compassionate and culturally-appropriate manner. Its Labor and Delivery service safely brings more than 1,000 babies into the world each year. North Central Bronx is committed to providing safe, high-quality medical care for any and all in need. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/north-central-bronx.

About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city's five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system's trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlusHealth-all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 46,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.