In June of 2021, what should have been a joyful moment for Mailyn quickly turned into a fight for survival. Her son Marcos was born full-term at Good Samaritan Hospital after an emergency C-section, while Mailyn herself suffered severe hemorrhaging and had to be rushed to Westchester Medical Center. As doctors worked to save her, baby Marcos was struggling too. Suspected of meconium aspiration, he was transferred to Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital—but during the transfer, he went into distress and stopped breathing. In a matter of hours, this new family was facing unimaginable uncertainty.
When Mailyn woke from surgery the next day, she was met with devastating news: Marcos’ condition was dire. His care team, led by Dr. Melanie Leong, explained that he needed ECMO—a life-saving treatment that temporarily takes over the function of the heart and lungs. For six long days, Marcos remained on ECMO, supported by machines and a team of experts who refused to give up on him. Every moment was critical, every decision vital. Because of the extraordinary skill, compassion, and dedication of the NICU staff, Marcos began to recover. After 21 days in the hospital, he was finally strong enough to go home.
Today, Marcos is a thriving, joyful four-year-old who is not only meeting milestones—but exceeding them. Mailyn calls him her miracle, and she credits the team at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital for saving his life.
Stories like Marcos’s are only possible through donor support. Your generosity helps ensure that life-saving care, advanced technology, and compassionate teams are there for families when they need them most.