STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — As someone who has had a family member spend time in Northwell’s Staten Island University Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit, I have witnessed countless hospital employees go above and beyond in the care they provide to Staten Island’s sick and injured.

It’s often said we are different than the other boroughs, that Staten Island is “a small Island,” where people still know one another and look out for one another.

In February, while covering a story about fire victim Ian Pereles receiving a “clap-out” celebration two days before his third birthday, I witnessed doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff lined up to say goodbye to their special patient.

And days before Christmas in 2023, I reported on 9-year-old cancer patient, Kathleen Ortega, of Stapleton, and her battle against Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

That year, Dr. Brahim Ardolic, executive director of SIUH, accompanied by hospital staff, provided Ortega with a “Day of Surprises” at Joseph and Marisa DiMartino’s famous Christmas House with their “Better than Macy’s” Christmas display, in Charleston.

Ardolic’s team ensured that Ortega’s sisters, Kaylee, 13, and Keisi, 7, and brother Kevin, 6, received gifts from Santa Claus, who bore a close resemblance to Frank Morisano, senior director of community health at SIUH.

One of their own

When the DiMartino’s kicked off their 2025 Lights for Life campaign, SIUH staff informed me that this year, one of their own would be the recipient of the “Day of Surprises.”

Without hesitating, I asked my manager at the Advance/SILive.com to let me cover this assignment.

Taisha Figueroa is a beloved member of the hospital staff, working as an environmental service worker for 25 years at the hospital’s North Campus in Ocean Breeze.

In October, her son, Raymond Irizarry Jr., 25, was killed in a horrific car accident on the Staten Island Expressway.

Her daughter-in-law and six-year-old granddaughter are now living with her, and Figueroa is caring for them while the family is still grieving the loss.

Meagan Sills, the newly appointed president of Northwell’s SIUH, was on hand Tuesday to show her support, saying that caring for a colleague is a reflection of the hospital’s core values of quality care and compassion within a “small Island” community.

“It’s the very people that have the compassion and empathy to take care of those patients . . . now it’s our opportunity to give back in a very powerful and meaningful way at a special time of the year,’’ Sills said. “Paired with a great DeMartino family, time and time again we are invested not only in Staten Island University Hospital, but, in this very example, directly back to the community through a healthcare worker.”

Figueroa was accompanied to the DeMartino’s Christmas House with Ralph Rivera, her daughter, Tiffany Irrizarry; granddaughter, Julissa Irrizarry, 6, and grandson Matthew Reyes, 4.

Santa “Michael Hill” Claus was on hand with early Christmas presents for the children.

Figueroa said the hospital has been there for her every day. “I never imagined they would treat me like family, but they had been there like family for me … I feel like they adopted me,’’ she said. “The support from work, it was something I guess I really needed because if I didn’t have support from my job, I don’t think I could make it,” Figueroa added.

Claudette Hill, director of community health at SIUH, said this year’s event is particularly special, providing an opportunity for the staff to give back to one of their own.

“When you can brighten up the day of one of your co-workers, one of your colleagues, it makes a big difference … just showing them love, it means a lot‚’’ Hill said. “Seeing Julissa’s face light up when she saw the American Girl doll made the day for me; that’s all I needed.”