Conquering Pain with Spine Surgery at Wellstar North Fulton Hospital

There aren’t many people out there who can say they survived cardiac arrest at 30. Kevin Miskewicz can.

According to the American Heart Association, more than 90% of people who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest die. Those who survive often have permanent neurological disabilities. But Kevin’s story has an incredibly fortunate ending, thanks to the highly coordinated work of his medical experts at Wellstar.

Recovering from cardiac arrest is something Kevin will never forget. It lives forever as a piece of his health history—one that includes a dedicated healthcare team—and his wife, who was the first to save his life.

CPR to the rescue

Kevin woke up on Labor Day 2017 at 5:30 AM to take the dog out. Pausing to adjust the thermostat as he came in, he fell, knocking over a lamp.

He was in cardiac arrest.

With no symptoms and no known pre-existing condition, this was unexpected, but that didn’t stop his wife, Andrea, from jumping into action.

“If it weren’t for me knocking over a lamp when I passed out,” said Kevin, “she would have never woken up and saved my life.”

In addition to calling 911 and unlocking the door for the paramedics, Andrea performed CPR for 10 minutes.

“Kevin’s wife doing good CPR was critical,” said Dr. Arthur Reitman, the interventional cardiologist who was a vital part of Kevin’s treatment team at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center. “More than five minutes of poor blood flow to the brain can result in permanent irreparable injury from which a patient is unable to recover.”

Coordinating multidisciplinary care to save a life

When paramedics arrived at Kevin’s home, he had no pulse and was not breathing. As the paramedics performed their lifesaving work, he technically died two times.

The ambulance took him to Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center, where he was initially assessed and treated by Dr. David Jacoboff. The interventional cardiologist implanted an intra-aortic balloon pump to stabilize him. Then, he transferred Kevin to Wellstar Kennestone for highly specialized heart care.

When Kevin arrived at Wellstar Kennestone by helicopter, his heart function wasn’t strong enough to support his body. Dr. Reitman and a team of doctors including a cardiologist, a pulmonologist and critical care doctors worked in tandem to put Kevin on an advanced life support system called veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Better known as VA-ECMO, it took the heart “offline” so it could heal. The technology removed unoxygenated blood from his body, oxygenated it and pumped it back in for the next three days.

“Very few places in the state—only four or five hospitals—have the technology and specialized training to put a patient on ECMO,” Dr. Reitman explained.

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 316,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S. this year. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, apart from skin cancer, and second only to lung cancer as a leading cause of cancer death in women.

It’s important for women to know the symptoms and schedule regular screenings to detect breast cancer early. Remember PINK—Prevention, Information, Next steps and Knowledge—to guide your awareness.

P: Prevention

The best way to detect breast cancer early is by staying connected with your healthcare provider and keeping up with regular visits and screenings, including mammograms.

Who should get screened, and when?

Annual mammograms are recommended starting at age 40. Women with additional risk factors or a family history should speak with their provider about starting screenings earlier.

I: Information

Research and learn as much as you can about breast cancer. Knowing the signs and symptoms could save your life.

What are the symptoms of breast cancer?

Some symptoms may be spotted early. Knowing what to look and feel for can help catch breast cancer before it progresses:

• Lump in the breast or underarm
• Breast swelling or thickening
• Redness or flaking skin on the breast
• Nipple discharge other than breast milk
• Change in breast size or shape
• Pain in any area of the breast

N: Next steps

When a mammogram result is flagged for follow-up care, it can feel scary. At Wellstar, you don’t have to face the process alone. Our Comprehensive Breast Health Program offers complimentary concierge services, automatically enrolling patients with abnormal mammogram results. Dedicated nurse navigators guide you through each step of the diagnostic process—helping with scheduling, answering questions and supporting your physical and emotional well-being.

If you are diagnosed with breast cancer, it’s important to partner with your care team to plan your treatment.

What happens after a breast cancer diagnosis?

• Schedule a follow-up visit. Meet with your healthcare provider to ask questions about your diagnosis and treatment options.
• Consult with specialists. At Wellstar, breast surgeons and oncologists work as part of an integrated team to recommend treatment tailored to your condition. Patients also have access to advanced imaging, leading facilities and experts in surgery, radiology, pathology and oncology.
• Explore STAT Clinic. At the Breast Cancer STAT Clinic at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center, a full team—including a breast surgeon, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, genetic counselor and nurse navigator—meets with you in one place on the same day. Together, they create a personalized treatment plan before you leave, helping reduce the time from diagnosis to treatment from months to just two weeks. This patient-centered model brings the specialists to you, ensuring the most seamless, supportive experience possible.

K: Knowledge

Knowing your personal health, family history and risk factors helps your care team determine if you may be at increased risk of developing breast cancer.

For women ages 24 to 39, Wellstar has partnered with Gabbi to offer a personalized, virtual breast cancer risk assessment. The program provides next-day virtual visits with specialists, coordinated imaging at Wellstar and 24/7 concierge support.

What are the risk factors for breast cancer?

• Age. Risk increases as women get older.
• Family history. Having a relative with breast cancer—or a male relative with prostate cancer—can increase risk.
• Previous radiation therapy. Radiation to the chest for other cancers or lymphomas may increase risk.
• Past diagnosis. A previous breast cancer diagnosis raises the likelihood of recurrence.

Wellstar provides comprehensive breast diagnostic and treatment options, along with support services to help patients and families navigate their journey.

For more information, visit wellstar.org/breastcancer.

John Elliott was a builder who enjoyed meeting with clients and planning their future homes. But the effects of Parkinson’s disease made it hard for him to meet with clients and live his life. Then he found a new sense of hope thanks to the Wellstar Parkinson’s and Tremors Program and a procedure called deep brain stimulation (DBS). His experience is a powerful testament to the value of comprehensive care and how his neurologists, functional neurosurgeon and nurse navigator helped him rebuild his life. 

Symptoms that were hard to shake

John has been building custom homes in Marietta for 45 years—a career defined by personal relationships with his clients. He loves spending time with his family, hunting, fishing and bushhogging the multi-generational family farm.

But in 2015, John’s hands began to shake. A former client and friend who was a retired neurologist recommended he see Dr. Thomas Holmes, a Wellstar neurologist. 

A DaTscan, a type of nuclear imaging test that takes images of the brain, helped Dr. Holmes see a loss in John’s dopamine-producing neurons, which indicates Parkinson’s disease. The progressive neurological disorder affects a person’s motor functions and movements. 

At first, medication helped. But years after his diagnosis, John’s medications were barely effective.

“A big part of custom home building is your interaction with your client,” John said. “Meeting with the customer became somewhat of a problem.”

His tremors and involuntary mouth movements left him feeling embarrassed.

“I kind of went into a shell and didn't want to see people because they would make comments, particularly about the mouth movement,” he said. “You want to hide.”