An Arlington Martin softball player ‘faced death.’ The experience changed her mentality
Izabella Martinez, a senior softball player at Arlington Martin, isn’t stressed about producing results at the plate or making the right defensive play.
She already faced a challenge far bigger than anything she could encounter on the field.
Two years ago, Martinez struggled to breath prior to a game at the Workman Softball Complex. The trainers pulled her aside, grabbed a defibrillator and called the paramedics.
Francesca Hernandez, Martinez’s mother, said she was “declining fast.” The program was fearful she suffered a heart attack.
“We were losing her,” Hernandez said.
The incident was caused by heart issues that arose because of longterm COVID-19. Martinez recovered but still dealt with complications and various health obstacles.
Martinez was unsure if she wanted to play again, but decided quitting softball wasn’t the right decision.
“It was really hard to return back to softball,” Martinez said. “Because, in the back of my head, I always did have that idea of ‘what if it does happen again? What if I don’t get to play and work out?’ That was a big fear of mine – not being able to return to do the things I love.”
Martinez returned to Martin softball, but additional health issues were a setback in her progress. She started to fall asleep in team meetings and couldn’t keep her eyes open in class.
“She was a different kid,” Martin head coach John Holton said. “Very lethargic all the time. She struggled staying awake in any given moment. She is not lazy. You could just tell that something wasn’t right. She thought she was being lazy.”
Eventually, Martinez was diagnosed with narcolepsy. At the time, she wasn’t sure why she was consistently falling asleep.
Martinez would apologize, telling teachers and coaches that it wouldn’t happen again. Although she couldn’t control her situation, she was afraid of being called lazy; she wasn’t yet an upperclassman that commanded respect.
“I’ll start winding down and get the opportunity to sleep, and my body will instantly take it,” Martinez said. “ ... It was like, ‘she is falling asleep, she doesn’t care’ or ‘she isn’t serious about this.’”
Holton said Martinez, despite the added obstacles, “continued to work hard” and was arguably the “best worker in the entire program.”
Although she had physical limitations, Martinez switched the one thing she could consistently control: her mentality.
Holton said she developed a “no fear” attitude because she already “faced death and overcame it.”
“Softball is not a big deal to her,” Holton said. “The pressures of softball are not a big deal. The pressures of high school are not a big deal.”
She produced enough results to earn a varsity spot, and her dedication never wavered, according to Holton.
“If she could survive that, she could survive anything,” Holton said of Martinez’s mentality switch. “Nothing is going to bother her now. She fears nothing now.”
Martinez said the challenges of high school athletics became insignificant, considering what she endured.
“There was no play or anything a coach could tell me that was bigger than that experience,” Martinez said. “I had already faced the biggest challenge that I’ll ever face.”
Moving forward with the Warriors
Martinez, who starts at shortstop for the Martin Warriors as a senior, still deals with issues from longterm COVID-19 and narcolepsy. She also developed an immune deficiency and passes out when she experiences too high or low of emotions.
Although the physical struggles remain, she is moving forward to the best of her ability. On Tuesday, Martinez hit a two RBI double to help the Warriors defeat Arlington Bowie 15-0 and improve to 6-1 in District 8-6A play.
“I’m very impressed and proud because I see firsthand her dedication,” Hernandez said. “Her daily discipline and working out. She chooses good nutrition and puts in time to be prepared.She always gives 100% of whatever she’s committed to. ... Despite her health challenges, she remains positive and has an amazing mindset. And I believe that is what has helped her overcome all these challenges.”
Earlier this season, Martinez hit her first career home run. The moment was “overwhelming.” It was something Martinez had been searching for since she nearly retired.
Now, she’s searching for her next big hit. The Warriors will face South Grand Prairie, the first place team in district 8-6A, on Thursday.
“We have a lot of talent this year,” Martinez said. “I think that we have way better chemistry than we’ve ever had in the past seasons.”
Of course, dealing with health issues hasn’t been easy for Martinez. At the end of the day, she says its a “blessing to be on the field.”
“It really taught me resilience and taught me determination,” Martinez said. “It taught me to never take anything for granted. Because you never know when you won’t be able to do the things you love again.”
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