‘General Hospital’ News: RIP Sabrina Santiago – A Look Back At Teresa Castillo’s Greatest Moments On ‘GH’

Oh, where to begin? One of the most luminous and effervescent characters in General Hospital history is gone. Brutally taken from us, far too soon. So if you are feeling mournful and sad, let’s take a look back at the highs and lows of Port Charles’s very own take on Eliza Doolittle.

Sabrina Maria Dominica Santiago (Theresa Castillo) first arrived at General Hospital in 2012. She was an adorable, shy and sweetly written newbie student nurse, full of hope and dedication to her chosen profession. Her fashion sense however left much to be desired, as she wore unflattering glasses and had the mother of all horrid hairstyles. We learned that shy and demur Sabrina hailed from Puerto Rico and was the adopted cousin of Juan Santiago (Michael Saucedo) a former boyfriend of the late and much missed Emily Quartermaine (Amber Tambyn). She was highly reserved and lacked confidence in all but her nursing skills.

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Her first significant relationship was with fellow student nurse Felix Dubois (Marc Anthony Samuel) and their special and very tight bond was both endearing as well as engaging. Felix became the sounding board that her character needed.

Then there was her schoolgirl crush on recently widowed Dr. Patrick Drake (Jason Thompson). Who at the time was rebounding with the manipulative and deceitful Dr. Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud). This put her firmly in Britt’s crosshairs and the two became bitter rivals.

Sabrina’s sweet relationship with Patrick’s daughter Emma (Brooklyn Rae Selzer) only furthered the acrimony between the two women. After numerous schemes and lies and a less then stellar relationship with Emma, Patrick dumps Britt. He slowly begins to notice Sabrina as more than a babysitter for his daughter and the two become closer.

The turning point in Sabrina’s young life was when with the aid of Felix, Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst) and Lucy Coe (Lynn Herring) she helped to revive the annual tradition of the GH nurses ball for Aids research. Felix, who worked on the side as a cosmetics consultant for Lucy’s Coe-Coe Cosmetics Company, gave the mousey nurse a complete makeover. Sabrina was stunning to say the least and Patrick was smitten. However her magical night was ruined when Britt announced on stage that she was pregnant with Dr. Drake’s child. After much angst and soapy drama Britt is forced to admit the baby is not a Drake after all.

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Just as things seem to be cruising for the lovebirds, Sabrina’s ex-boyfriend the dangerous Carlos Rivera (Jeffrey Vincent Parise) arrives in Port Charles and announces his never ending love for her.

To make matters worse after agreeing to Patrick’s proposal, on their wedding day Patrick’s thought dead wife, Robin Scorpio Drake (Kimberly McCullough) shows up at the church. This leads to a reconciliation of the Drake family and the end of Patrick and Sabrina.

Shortly thereafter Sabrina discovers she is pregnant with Patrick’s child. After letting Carlos falsely pretend he is the father, the truth comes out. Unfortunately for all concerned Sabrina along with Patrick and Emma are involved in a hit and run accident and Sabrina has a premature birth. Naming the baby Gabriel, they are heartbroken when young Gabriel dies.

The low point of nurse Santiago’s life occurs when she mistakes Ava Jerome (Maura West) for the hit and run driver and in her grief attempts to kill Ava’s unborn child with toxic medication. Thankfully this plan fails and no harm befalls Ava’s child. Sabrina then learns that Ava was not responsible for the crash and eaten by guilt, confesses and loses her job at the hospital.

It seemed as though things were turning around for Sabrina, when she becomes the nanny for Michael Corinthos’s (Chad Duell) little sister Avery. The two begin an affair and both are thrilled when Sabrina becomes pregnant. The Quartermaine’s embrace the former nurse and prepare for the new arrival. However it comes to light that Carlos is the father, not Michael. This leads to Sabrina running off with the fugitive Rivera.

A few months later, tiring of life on the run and being saved by Michael, she returns to Port Charles.

Just as it seemed that Michael and Sabrina would find their way back to each other after the death of Carlos. Sabrina, who was reinstated as a nurse, was strangled to death by serial killer Paul Hornsby (Richard Burgi).

The young nurse was a character who still had story to tell, alas it was not meant to be. In closing, a special shout out to Theresa Castillo for her adept portrayal of Sabrina’s many layers. You will be missed and cheered on in your next endeavor.

R.I.P. Nurse Santiago

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