Patients from Harlingen, Lyford and Weslaco honored; received miniature “Impella” heart pump at HMC
HARLINGEN – Three Rio Grande Valley patients recently received a “Heart of Life” Award from Harlingen Medical Center, where they were treated for heart problems with the help of a small life-saving heart pump.
Raul Riojas of Harlingen, Jennifer Davis of Lyford, and Anadelia Martinez of Weslaco were honored as heroes in the fight against heart disease using innovative technology at Harlingen Medical Center.
The three patients all underwent intensive cardiac procedures and received specialized care from cardiologists at the South Heart Clinic in Harlingen, Dr. Michael Balderas, Dr. James Stone, and Dr. Michael Evans. The “Abiomed Impella® CP” heart pump was implanted in each of the patients, enabling their heart to continue pumping blood while they underwent additional treatment.
In the case of Raul Riojas, the miniature heart pump assisted his heart for four days while he underwent procedures including heart catheterization. The husband, father, and retired truck dispatcher from Harlingen was grateful for the treatment he received from Dr. Balderas at Harlingen Medical Center. Mr. Riojas was honored on the occasion of his birthday — as doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers at Harlingen Medical Center presented him with the “Heart of Life” award and sang “Happy Birthday” to him.
For Jennifer Davis, a mother and grandmother from Lyford, an early symptom of heart problems was a feeling of tightness in her chest, followed several weeks later by shortness of breath. She was sent to another facility before being transferred to Harlingen Medical Center. At HMC, Dr. James Stone implanted the Impella CP heart pump prior to performing a successful procedure.
In the case of Anadelia Martinez, she experienced chest pain and shortness of breath which made it difficult to participate in activities she enjoyed, such as dancing. Dr. Evans implanted the Impella CP heart pump to allow her heart to rest before coronary artery bypass graft surgery was performed. The procedure gave Ms. Martinez a second chance at life.
“The Impella® benefits our heart patients by supporting function of the heart muscle, allowing for further treatment such as an angioplasty or stenting procedures to open blocked coronary arteries,” said Linda Bull, Director of the Catheterization Laboratory at Harlingen Medical Center (HMC). “This is helping us save lives by providing our patients the temporary cardiac support needed to ensure optimal care.”
In some cases, the miniature heart pump may help patients who have suffered heart failure or a heart attack. The specialized device is implanted through a less-invasive method. A thin tube (catheter) is inserted through an artery in the leg, and then moved up toward the chest and the heart, where the heart pump is implanted.
The device then pumps blood from the heart out into the rest of the patient’s body, replicating the natural function of the heart. This gives the heart a chance to rest and recover from injury, infection, surgery or other procedures.
Cardiologists at Harlingen Medical Center have been utilizing the Impella heart pump since 2015. Cardiologists at the South Heart Clinic include Dr. Hugo Blake; Dr. Michael Evans; Dr. Eduardo Flores; Dr. Juan Joel Garza; Dr. Shereef Hilmy; Dr. Frank Mazzola; Dr. David Yardley; Dr. Michael Balderas; Dr. Danielle M. Stone; Dr. James Stone; Dr. Deanna Yamamura; and Dr. Guillermo Salinas.
The cardiologists are supported by a team of specialized technicians, nurses and staff in the hospital’s cardiac catheterization laboratory and intensive care units.
“Here at Harlingen Medical Center, our patients benefit from the exceptional care of our physicians, nurses and staff,” said Edward Stiner Jr., Chief Nursing Officer for HMC. “Our staff works tirelessly to uphold the highest standards of care. We remain committed to innovation, compassionate service, and above all, to our patients.”
Harlingen Medical Center is an award-winning hospital for heart care and has been named a 5-star recipient for pacemaker procedures for five years in a row (2021-2025) by Healthgrades, a national healthcare information company.
In addition, Harlingen Medical Center is the only hospital in Cameron County which has received the highest rating for patient safety, an “A” grade in the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade ratings, for seven times in a row (from 2021 to 2024).
For more information about cardiovascular services at Harlingen Medical Center, please visit www.HarlingenMedicalCenter.com/our-services/cardiovascular/, or call (956) 365-1000. For more information regarding the Impella heart pump, please visit www.impella.com.
ABOUT Harlingen Medical Center
Harlingen Medical Center is a nationally recognized and award-winning general acute care hospital. The Level IV Trauma Designated hospital specializes in bariatrics, cardiovascular, imaging, orthopedics, emergency medicine, gastroenterology, gynecology, and wound healing care. Our concept of “Patient Focused Care” puts you, the patient, first! The design, management, staffing, and operation of our hospital are focused on your needs and overall comfort. For more information, please call (956) 365-1000 or visit www.HarlingenMedicalCenter.com.