Jackson West Cardiology Team Gives Miami Mother a Second Chance

By: Ruelle Champion

For as long as she can remember, Jackson Health System has been a part of Maricela Mendez’s story. In the 1980s, she chose Jackson Memorial Hospital to give birth to her only daughter, Mauriett Chayeb-Mendez. After a decades-long career with the United States Postal Service, the family’s trust in the health system proved itself true when Mendez needed life-saving care.

“It felt like something out of a movie,” Chayeb-Mendez said.

In April 2026, numbness spread over the 74-year-old’s face and her chest tightened. Chayeb-Mendez, who has a nursing background, recognized something was wrong with her mom and called 911. Mendez was rushed to Jackson West Medical Center, where the cardiac team, including interventional cardiologist Joao Braghiroli, MD, evaluated her for a possible heart attack.

Dr. Braghiroli’s team performed an electrical cardioversion, or an electric shock, to restore a stable heart rhythm before heading to the cardiac catheterization lab.

“Her coronary angiography showed atherosclerotic disease, meaning built-up cholesterol plaques in the heart’s arteries, and her cardiac enzymes were elevated. It was very important to determine whether those blockages significantly affected her blood flow,” Dr. Braghiroli said.

He used a specialized test called fractional flow reserve to find whether the blockages were restricting blood flow to the heart. The test involved guiding a thin wire through a blood vessel in the wrist and into the heart’s arteries to measure blood pressure on both sides of the blockage.

Dr. Braghiroli added that a relevant blockage causes a big drop in pressure across the coronary artery, but that wasn’t the case for Mendez. While reassuring, he knew it was still important to find the cause of her symptoms.

“Fortunately, after the cardiac catheterization, we concluded that her symptoms and blood test abnormalities weren’t the result of a significant obstructive lesion in the heart, but rather were due to a rapid heart rate,” Dr. Braghiroli said.

Mendez’s experience highlights Jackson West’s cardiac team’s expertise and their dedication to thorough patient care.

“Our systems are rightly designed so that critical conditions such as myocardial infarction, or a heart attack are not missed,” Dr. Braghiroli said. “At the same time, some complex presentations involve multiple overlapping conditions, and care must be individualized to arrive at a precise diagnosis and treatment.”

High levels of cardiac enzymes, including troponin, can mean the heart muscle is injured or under stress. A heart attack can be the cause, but isn’t the only reason, as shown in Mendez.

“Arrhythmias can produce chest pain and troponin elevation that mimic a heart attack. It’s essential to identify and distinguish the specific mechanism in order to treat our patients appropriately,” Dr. Braghiroli added.

Mendez was discharged from Jackson West after three days, and had follow-up visits with Dr. Braghiroli shortly after.

“My mom’s skin color is better. She’s walking around,” Chayeb-Mendez said. “Even though I was terrified, Dr. Braghiroli made me feel like my mom was in the best hands.”

Mendez was given a wearable heart monitor so Dr. Braghiroli and the care team could closely follow her recovery.

“They didn’t do a one-size-fits-all treatment,” Chayeb-Mendez said. “They made decisions based on what was best for her.”

The family is now committed to making new memories through travel, quality time, and everyday activities. Mendez and her daughter have taken road trips through North Florida, explored small towns, and cherished every moment like strolling through a Tractor Supply store.

“The team at Jackson West treated my mom like family and gave us more time together,” Chayeb-Mendez said. “When people say miracles happen every day, it’s true.”