I was living my best life
In 2020, at 41 years old, I was living my best single life. I had traveled to Spain to celebrate my 40th birthday, I was practicing yoga poses in Costa Rica, and relaxing in hot water springs in Iceland. Back at home I was enjoying new restaurants, attending happy hours with friends, and taking advantage of what Washington, DC had to offer! I was also committed to my mental and physical health, practicing yoga and attending a bootcamp-style gym weekly.
From active and healthy to barely surviving
In late October, I started to feel sick, I was diagnosed with a respiratory virus, and a urinary tract infection which a few days later had developed into double pneumonia and then ARDS. A few days later, I was rushed to the ICU via ambulance with an oxygen level of 40%. I spent 12 days in that ICU and was placed on BiPAP, an alternative to a ventilator.
Memories of a life I never lived
On the night of November 13, I was intubated, sedated and rushed to The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. My medical team placed me on a ventilator and VV ECMO, a form of life support. I woke up in February 2021, only to find out I had been on ECMO for 69 days and in the ICU for more than 4 months. My family had been told many times to prepare to lose me. My sister had written my eulogy. I overcame several infections, a blood clot, three blood transfusions, multiple lung collapses, and severe sedation drug withdrawal. I was the first ECMO/tracheostomy patient to be placed in a prone position for treatment at Johns Hopkins. I returned home on March 4 after 2 weeks of acute rehab, relearning to do even the simplest tasks.
The Ultimate Test in Surrender
As I have always done, I faced these new challenges with humor and learned to surrender to where I was. As I began my recovery, many others across the world were facing ECMO with loved ones and I started sharing my story and supporting them in their journeys. I shared my personal struggles with ICU Delirium, post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), drug withdrawals, and relearning to live independently. In 2022, I founded Maria’s Miracle, a 501(c)3 non-profit committed to providing resources and education to those facing ECMO treatment. In March of 2025 Maria’s Miracle joined the ARDS Alliance to continue working towards our goal to support the ECMO community.
Learn More About Maria’s Story