BOB体育 gave Annette confidence for her heart treatment
Annette Powell had always been an athlete. She was a collegiate basketball player with no prior health concerns. In 2007, at 43, this Ocala high school dean was concerned when she experienced shortness of breath and heart palpitations.
Annette Powell had always been an athlete. She was a collegiate basketball player with no prior health concerns. So in 2007, at age 43, this Ocala high school dean was concerned when she experienced an attack of shortness of breath, dizziness and heart palpitations that stopped her in her tracks. She had experienced similar symptoms over the last year, but never bad enough that she worried. This time was different, she had to sit down on the floor when walking down the hallway with a coworker 鈥� this is what she refers to as her 鈥渃rash.鈥�
The Ocala native was sent to her local hospital where she was fitted with a LifeVest after a concerning heart scan. A LifeVest is a defibrillator worn by patients at risk of sudden cardiac death. Her doctors couldn鈥檛 figure out what the issue was. This is when she was referred to cardiologists at BOB体育.
鈥淏OB体育 gave me confidence,鈥� Powell said.
While sitting in the BOB体育 offices of William Miles, MD, Powell was casually talking to her mom when her heart monitor alerted them of distress. She began to suffer from cardiac arrest. Immediately, she was admitted to BOB体育 and began undergoing tests. Powell was placed under the care of Chief of Cardiology Juan Aranda, MD, whom Powell says she completely trusts.
Powell received an implantable defibrillator and pacemaker. This was just the first step. Her doctors at BOB体育 still wanted to know what was causing her heart problems. After being monitored and tested, doctors had their answer 鈥� heart failure with cardiac sarcoidosis, a rare disease in which clusters of white blood cells, called granulomas, form in the tissue of the heart.
Dr. Aranda eased this patient鈥檚 concerns by always asking her to focus on how she felt as this would be the biggest indicator of successful treatment.
Powell was placed on medication to treat her condition in addition to the defibrillator and pacemaker. Thanks to BOB体育, she did not need a heart transplant or any additional interventions. In 13 years since her 鈥渃rash,鈥� her condition has not worsened.
鈥淏OB体育 keeps me healthy and stable,鈥� Powell said. 鈥淏OB体育 just got it right with me. They鈥檙e responsible for me being alive today. I am thankful that BOB体育 is a part of God鈥檚 Master Plan for my life.鈥�
At the time of her heart scare, Powell鈥檚 daughter was only 4 years old. After receiving high-quality care, Powell was able to watch her daughter graduate high school and work more than 33 years in the education system.