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JohnCare

Published on February 20, 2021

Last updated 09:11 AM February 26, 2021

John Petrick standing by his dock.

John Petrick loves the simple things in life. He revels in time spent with family, reeling in a big catch and feeling the crisp wind in his face during a morning bike ride.

However, for a man that enjoys such simple pleasures, John’s heart health is quite complicated. For a long time, his well-being felt like a puzzle that no one could quite figure out.

John’s complex heart issues first began over two decades ago, when he nearly died after his heart suddenly went into an abnormal rhythm.

After the life-threatening heart episode, specialists in California diagnosed him with ventricular tachycardia (VT), a severe heart condition in which abnormal electrical signals cause the heart to beat faster. Then later, he was also diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AFib), an irregular and rapid heart rhythm that can cause heart palpitations and shortness of breath.

From defibrillators to heart surgeries, John and his Californian care team worked hard to manage the ups and downs of his heart conditions. But after spending years in the Golden State, John was ready to take on a new adventure: moving over 2,000 miles away to Georgia.

“The decision to move to Georgia was difficult because of my heart conditions,” John shared. “I needed a doctor who would really take the time to sort everything out.”

Luckily, it wasn’t long before John was connected with an entire team of Wellstar heart experts delivering comprehensive care all within the same health system.

Finding the right rhythm

Before being referred for specialty care by his Wellstar primary care provider, John briefly received heart care from another health system in Georgia. However, he had some reservations about his treatment.

“Honestly, it wasn’t the level of care – especially in terms of empathy – that I was used to,” he admitted. “And that’s a scary situation when you have a condition like mine.”

That was never a problem at Wellstar. As soon as he met with Wellstar Health System Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology Dr. Narendra Kanuru, John knew the physician was in his corner.

“I could tell Dr. Kanuru really took the time to study my case,” John said, remembering his first visit with the specialist. “He recited my medical history from the last 20 years, without having to look at any papers.”

Since then, they have developed a great healthcare partnership, always keeping an open line of communication.

“I feel so comfortable expressing any fears or apprehensions about my conditions or treatment with Dr. Kanuru. He’s always very receptive,” John shared. “His level of empathy, professional expertise and ability to communicate and understand me is just as valuable as his technical, medical skills.”

Along with Dr. Kanuru’s expertise, Wellstar Cardiologist Dr. David Caras provides an essential complement to John’s cardiovascular care. While a cardiac electrophysiologist hones in on the functional and rhythmic areas of the heart, a cardiologist offers a broad spectrum of heart care.

While each focusing on their areas of expertise, the two heart specialists collaborate to create the best treatment plan for John, and adjust it along the way.

“Dr. Kanuru and Dr. Caras work together as a team,” John said. “It’s truly remarkable and beautiful. Often, I’ll go to see one of the doctors and they’ll mention a conversation they had about me with the other recently.”

I feel like I am an important person to Wellstar. When I make requests, I am heard. My thoughts and feelings are considered, and I’m always in agreement with the treatments my doctors choose. My life is much better because of the collaboration between experts and the overall empathy of my care team.

- John Petrick

Wellstar Heart Care Patient

Coordinated cardiac care

However, John’s most recent diagnosis of congestive heart failure — caused when the heart muscle doesn’t pump blood as efficiently as it should — and the development of a new arrhythmic pattern required reinforcements.

That’s when Wellstar Cardiac Electrophysiologist Dr. Jacob Blatt and Wellstar Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiologist Dr. David Snipelisky entered the picture. The two specialists helped make sense of the new pieces of John’s heart health puzzle.

“Mr. Petrick has quite a complex clinical picture with both heart failure and electrical instability,” Dr. Snipelisky said. “His heart muscle that pumps blood to the rest of the body isn’t functioning normally. He also has experienced many arrhythmias, including Afib and VT which can be lethal.”

The heart experts have worked through many of John’s health hurdles together, including a VT ablation performed by Dr. Blatt. This procedure can help restore a regular heart rhythm by eliminating certain spots causing erratic signals.

Now, with John’s latest diagnosis of congestive heart failure, Dr. Snipelisky has taken the lead to help improve his heart function and keep him hopeful for the future.

“We are looking at the big picture and not just trying to put a bandage on it,” Dr. Snipelisky said, explaining his long-term approach to John’s care. “Even though Mr. Petrick is doing well now, I am focused on what I can do to keep him well in five years, or even ten years from now.”

John has benefited from the close collaboration of all of his Wellstar cardiac specialists, a goal that the entire system strives for with each and every person.

“Our approach to patient care is truly a multidisciplinary effort,” Dr. Snipelisky said. “At Wellstar, we have a team-driven environment that doesn’t come close to a lot of other programs.”

Focused on the future

As John continues to navigate congestive heart failure, he keeps a positive outlook about his health. With world-class heart care and dedicated specialists on his team, John can live life to the fullest instead of worrying about his wellness.

“I feel like I am an important person to Wellstar. When I make requests, I am heard. My thoughts and feelings are considered, and I’m always in agreement with the treatments my doctors choose. My life is much better because of the collaboration between experts and the overall empathy of my care team,” John said, sharing his experience with the health system.

“With everything I have been through, I am surprised that my quality of life is as high as it is, and I think that my doctors take pride in that,” he continued.

Now, John can focus on being there for his entire family for many years to come. Through his experience, he has learned how each heart expert holds a unique piece of the puzzle to his health, providing comprehensive cardiac care for all of his diagnoses.

Moving forward, the Wellstar team will always be there to help manage the complexities of John’s conditions, so he can get back to what really matters: living simply and staying heart healthy.

Tags

Narendra Kumar Kanuru David Sarandos Caras Jacob Nathan Blatt
PeopleCare Heart Care
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Ashley was able to recover from cardiac arrest and walk down the aisle.

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In March of 2021, Ashley Martin suffered cardiac arrest, which kills about 90% of people when it happens outside of a hospital. Thankfully, she was already at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center receiving the compassionate care she’d been seeking to address a long list of symptoms.

Everything began at a hectic time in Ashley’s life. She was 30 and had just gotten engaged. Wedding planning had started with the help of her fiancé and their two young boys. The hope had been to have the wedding toward the end of 2021. But the unexpected happened.

“I was always healthy,” she said. “I grew up playing sports. I was a runner. I used to get headaches, but that was the extent of my medical history.”

Finding the right care when there is more than one symptom

Symptoms of what would ultimately be diagnosed as Guillain-Barré syndrome began in February of 2021. This rare neurological disorder causes the body’s immune system to attack the nerves. 

Ashley started experiencing tingling in the tips of her hands and feet, which moved up her legs and arms as days passed. When intermittent numbness became a symptom, Ashley went to a hospital near her Peachtree City home. A clean CT and MRI meant she went home with plans to see a rheumatologist.

As she waited for her first appointment, she started feeling numbness in her feet.

“At one point, I took a step down the stairs and went tumbling down to the concrete floor,” Ashley said. 

On another trip to the hospital near her home, Ashley was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, but treatment was unsuccessful. The numbness continued, spreading to her face. She began using a walker and, soon after, a wheelchair.

“The paralysis had moved to my abdomen,” Ashley said. “I went to sleep one night and woke up abruptly gasping for air.”

Compassionate medical care at a pivotal point

 Later that night, an ambulance brought Ashley to Wellstar Kennestone, where she would finally get the specialized neuro care she desperately needed. She was admitted to the Neurocritical Care unit, staffed by physicians, nurses and a medical team with specialized training in neurological conditions.

Upon arrival, she underwent respiratory failure due to paralysis spreading to her diaphragm. She was stabilized, but shortly after that, she experienced sudden cardiac arrest — the abrupt loss of heart function that stops blood flow to the body.

After a critical care nurse administered CPR, Ashley’s heart started beating again. Life support medications were given to keep her heart pumping.

“The neuro ICU nurses and doctors saved my life,” she said.

Later, her attending neurologist explained that the stress of her nervous system and immune system fighting, paired with respiratory failure, caused such high stress that she had a cardiac arrest.

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Doing good CPR is critical to save someone from cardiac arrest.

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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.

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

CPR to the rescue

Kevin woke up on Labor Day 2017 at 5:30 a.m. 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 Regional Medical Center for highly specialized heart care.

When Kevin arrived at 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.

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Photo of Judy Robinson and family member. Text reads "JudyCare"

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JudyCare

Judy Robinson finished her fifth tour as a civilian assisting the military in January of 2018. She prioritized visiting her mother, her three adult daughters and five grandchildren when she returned to Douglasville. Second on the list was scheduling her routine health checks, as required every year by the military, including having a mammogram.

Mammograms can catch cancer early and lead to better outcomes

A mammogram is a routine X-ray that takes a picture of the breast to identify early signs of breast cancer. Mammograms can catch cancer before it can be felt, sometimes up to three years earlier. When breast cancer is detected earlier, the outcomes can be better for patients.  

At Wellstar Douglas Medical Center, Judy’s mammogram identified a lump in the breast. A biopsy confirmed it was cancer. This was the third time Robinson was diagnosed with breast cancer in 20 years. 

Overcoming breast cancer, time after time 

“The most aggressive breast cancer I had was the very first time,” she said, explaining that when her breast cancer was treated in 1998, she had a lumpectomy (a breast-preserving procedure that only removes the abnormal tissue from the breast), radiation and chemotherapy.

Her daughters were school-aged children at the time, and Robinson’s mother helped with their care as Robinson underwent aggressive treatment. 

“I went to work one day, and I thought to myself, ‘I can’t do this. This is too much,’” she remembered. “I saw their picture on my desk, and I thought, ‘You know what, Lord, I’ve got to hang in here for them.’ My whole attitude changed. It wasn’t about me or how I was feeling. It was about providing for them.”

She fought breast cancer and won, eating healthily, exercising and loving her family for nearly 10 years before it returned. 

“I was on Tamoxifen (a hormonal therapy used to treat hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer), and it was so strong it threw me into menopause,” she said. “I was having hot flashes so bad, so I stopped taking it. If I would have stayed on it, it may not have come back.”

When cancer returned to her left breast, Robinson chose to have a mastectomy — complete breast removal and reconstructive surgery. 

“My attitude for treatment was better the second time,” she said, smiling. “I would skip in there and bring that positive sunshine personality to rub off on everybody else!”

In 2018, she was diagnosed for the third time — this time, the breast cancer was in her right breast. She had a mastectomy at Wellstar Cobb Medical Center and breast reconstruction surgery in September 2020.

“Breasts don’t make or break us,” Judy said. “We are who we are as humans. It’s all about what’s in the heart. I’ve learned that. And, reconstructive surgery has its perks!”

Her oncologist recommended a long-term oral medication to help decrease the chance of the cancer returning. Throughout her treatment, Robinson found comfort by participating in a breast cancer support group at Wellstar Douglas Medical Center. 

“I didn’t have any hair — I was wearing a wig,” she remembered. “I met a lady who had ovarian cancer, and it was amazing. I always find comfort in talking to others there.”

Robinson’s purpose

Robinson has had her share of health challenges, including living with multiple sclerosis, diagnosed around the same time as her third breast cancer diagnosis. But she has an incredibly positive outlook.

Robinson owns two service-oriented businesses and runs them with her sister and two of her daughters.

Nell's Place is a transitional home serving civilians and veterans with disabilities such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Robinson goes above and beyond the call of duty, often playing the role of a family member in addition to that of a daily caregiver. She often takes groups of residents out to dinner to celebrate a resident’s birthday when their family is not involved. 

Judy and her family also operate In Loving Hands Adult Day & Health, caring for seniors with Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia and children and adults with developmental disabilities.

“I look at my purpose for still being here as God’s purpose,” she said. “I don’t take anything for granted. He’s allowing me to be a good steward — to see about others, even in my condition. I’m still able to give, and I’m still able to love.”

Have you had a mammogram?

Screening can help catch breast cancer early and may improve outcomes after treatment. Learn more about mammograms and schedule one at a location near you. 

Photo of Judy Robinson with family members

IN THE PHOTO: 

Judy Robinson overcame breast cancer three times to run service-oriented businesses with her sister, Wendy Favors (not pictured), and her daughters. Pictured from left to right: Tamara Robinson, Somer Robinson, Judy Robinson and Brittia Childs.

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