Article Category: PeopleCare

TomCare

Self-awareness and specialized imaging help active dad get ahead of the game

Published on February 17, 2023

Last updated 01:20 PM January 08, 2024

When COVID forced everyone to spend more time at home, Tom Murphy decided he wouldn’t sit around idle. At 62, he upped his regular activity to work out with his son, daughter and daughter’s fiancé—college athletes who kept him in top shape.

Tom’s go-to workout was a long walk in a hilly East Cobb neighborhood. He and the kids also played a lot of pickleball.

About a year in, Tom noticed a physical change.

“I was playing fewer games of pickleball at a time and making it only halfway through my walks,” he said.

Tom turned to his cardiologist, who, with the help of specialized imaging offered at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center, created a personalized action plan.

Getting answers with the help of HeartFlow

During Tom’s annual appointment with Dr. George Kramer, he shared his concerns about his symptoms.

“I do sports with my kids, and I’m short of breath,” Tom said.

The physician requested a cardiac CT (CCTA), the new standard for detecting heart disease, according to the American Heart Association. It can be more accurate than treadmill stress tests and is less invasive than cardiac catheterization.

“Results of the initial CT showed two blockages,” Dr. Kramer said. “One blockage was 67%, one was 75%, and we decided to follow up with further analysis using the HeartFlow test.”

Because Wellstar was the first HeartFlow Platinum site in Georgia, the cardiology staff were able to create a personalized, 3D model of Tom’s coronary arteries to check on blood flow. HeartFlow is a fractional reserve assessment that looks at how each blockage impacts the heart. Previously, this in-depth view of the heart could only happen with a more invasive procedure.

According to Dr. Kramer, the test itself has been “a godsend” since it makes it possible for patients to avoid invasive tests while still getting important—and potentially lifesaving—information about their hearts.

HeartFlow revealed the blood flow to Tom’s heart was significantly compromised.

Tom and his 91-year-old mother stand together for heart health.

Tom and his 91-year-old mother stand together for heart health.

Don’t dismiss the symptoms as a byproduct of stress or being overweight, even if you’re experiencing those issues too. Talk to your doctor.

- Dr. George Kramer, Cardiologist

Reducing the risk of a heart attack

With results like this, Dr. Kramer recommended Tom undergo a cardiac catheterization which led to a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This minimally invasive procedure opens clogged coronary arteries, restoring blood flow and helping with symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath.

Dr. Arthur Reitman performed the procedure at Wellstar Kennestone. The surgery took about an hour, and Tom noticed a difference almost immediately.

“I could do everything the next day,” he said. “My energy was back, and the color in my face was better."

Seeing the impact in action

Once back to his exercise routine, the change was apparent.

“Before the procedure, on my walks, my heart rate would get up to 140 when going up a steep hill. It would take a while to recover, and I’d have to stop and rest to allow my heart rate to go down,” he said.

Afterward, Tom’s heart rate stayed lower throughout the walk and went down more quickly once he was done. And he’s now back in winning pickleball form.

Listening to what your body tells you

Tom’s attention to his symptoms and prompt action may have saved his life.

Dr. Kramer believes the simple act of listening to your body can help save lives. Symptom types can vary between men and women, too. He said exertional dyspnea — the sensation of not being able to breathe deeply or fast enough—is more common in women. In contrast, men traditionally feel a heaviness in the chest. Anyone noticing a change in breathing, chest pressure during activity or a decrease in energy levels should get their symptoms checked.

“Don’t dismiss the symptoms as a byproduct of stress or being overweight, even if you’re experiencing those issues too,” said Dr. Kramer. “Talk to your doctor.”

Back in the game thanks to a healthy heart

Tom’s close attention to his body and willingness to seek medical advice when he notices a change has helped save his life.

Using the data of the HeartFlow test to inform the best treatment, Tom significantly reduced his risk of a future heart attack.

“I was able to walk my daughter down the aisle and be at my son’s wedding,” he said, also noting that he became a grandfather two years after his procedure. “I’m very excited about all the life events I can now say I was around for.”

Tom is a sales representative for HeartFlow, but he was the last person he thought would ever need to use the technology. "I didn’t think I’d be the poster child for this," he said. "I have no family history of heart disease at all." Thankfully, his professional link with the new technology helped make him aware that his symptoms were a sign to get checked out by his doctor.

Learn more about expert heart care at Wellstar.

Expertise in heart disease and cancer care

Researchers have identified a connection between cancer care and cardiovascular health, leading to the creation of cardio-oncology. At Wellstar, this specialized care is available in metro Atlanta and Augusta, expanding access for people across Georgia.

“Cardio-oncology exists because more people are surviving cancer and living long enough to face heart-related complications,” said Dr. Avirup Guha, a board-certified cardio-oncologist at Wellstar Georgia Cancer Center and the first designated fellow of the International Cardio-Oncology Society in Georgia. “For some patients, cancer treatments can damage their heart. For others, they may have existing cardiovascular disease that needs careful management during cancer care. That requires expertise beyond cardiology—knowing how to modify therapy without causing harm.”

Cardio-oncologists are cardiologists with advanced training in how cancer therapies affect the heart. They help guide treatment decisions and work closely with oncology teams to ensure patients receive safe, effective care.

“A lot of oncology treatments are very effective for cancer, but the heart can become an innocent bystander,” said Wellstar Cardio-Oncologist Dr. Nikolas Krishna, who also specializes in advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology. “We advocate for these patients so their oncology and cardiology teams work together for the best possible outcome.”

Coordinated, team-based care

Multidisciplinary collaboration is central to Wellstar Cardio-Oncology. Cardiologists, oncologists, nurse navigators and other specialists communicate directly to align care and support both cancer outcomes and heart health.

“Our program helps address complications before they happen and streamlines care so people aren’t going back and forth between specialists,” Dr. Guha said.

Wellstar Cardio-Oncology teams partner with patients and families to understand risks and create a personalized plan. This may include imaging, blood tests and ongoing monitoring to detect early signs of heart conditions during chemotherapy, hormone therapy or radiation.

Additionally, Wellstar Cardio-Oncology nurse navigators—registered nurses with advanced training—provide compassionate guidance throughout the care journey.

“Nurse navigation plays a key role in educating patients and making sure they .understand their care plan,” said Dr. Guha. “It’s all about communication.”

Who can benefit from cardio-oncology care

Cardio-oncology care supports people from diagnosis through survivorship, especially when treatments or existing conditions may affect heart health.

You may benefit from cardio-oncology services if you have cancer or were treated for cancer within the past five years and you:

Have heart failure or another existing heart condition
Are at high risk for heart disease
Have experienced cardiovascular complications after cancer treatment
Require chemotherapy that may be cardiotoxic or radiation therapy to the chest

Some cancer treatments can weaken the heart muscle or alter heart function, making monitoring and early intervention essential. Therapies known to affect the heart include anthracyclines, platinum-based chemotherapy, HER2-targeted therapies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and fluoropyrimidines.

“Too often we see patients years after treatment when heart problems have already developed,” Dr. Krishna said. “By screening earlier and seeing patients upstream, we can prevent disease rather than treat it after it occurs.”

Support that extends into survivorship

When cancer treatment ends, Wellstar Cardio-Oncology teams continue monitoring heart health and providing preventive care tailored to each person’s history.

“Survivors may face accelerated cardiovascular risks years later,” said Dr. Krishna. “By continuing to screen and monitor, we can help catch any issues and protect their long-term health and quality of life.”

This ongoing care gives patients greater peace of mind as they navigate recovery.

“We want patients to know we are a layer of reassurance,” Dr. Krishna said. “They don’t have to worry about treatment hurting their heart—we are here to protect it so they can focus on healing.”

By combining advanced expertise, early monitoring and compassionate support, Wellstar’s Cardio-Oncology Program helps people face cancer with confidence.

Learn more about cardio-oncology services at Wellstar.

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Thanks to a team of heart failure doctors and the Optimizer Heart Mini, Pat's back to dancing the Carolina shag again.

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PatCare

Pat Gelisse has been dancing for 30 years. She even taught the Carolina shag for a while. It’s a partner dance, sometimes compared to Swing dancing to beach music.

But severe heart failure downgraded Pat’s dancing queen status for close to 10 years.

“I went from feeling happy to feeling like a nothing,” she remembered of that time in her life.

With a team of Wellstar heart specialists working together for her, Pat found hope and new life on the dance floor.

Heart failure masquerades as acid reflux

It started more than a decade ago when Pat lived in central Georgia. She scheduled a doctor’s appointment for what she thought was acid reflux. She popped in on a quick break from her marketing job, assuming it wouldn’t take long.

Blood work and an EKG got Pat a ticket straight to the hospital and a quadruple bypass.

“My heart got worse; it wasn’t pumping blood,” Pat said.

She was in acute heart failure, a life-threatening condition where the heart doesn’t pump well enough to deliver the necessary amount of oxygen to her body. Pat’s ejection fraction (EF)—the percentage measurement of the blood that leaves the heart each time it pumps—was only 10%. The normal range is 50 to 70%.

It was a scary time, and with a family history of heart problems, Pat was worried. She’d lost both parents to heart failure, as well as other family members.

“I just knew for sure I was going to be next,” said Pat.

Doctors from various academic institutions discussed serious treatments ranging from LVAD to transplant, but because the pumping performance of her heart improved, she was no longer a candidate for those procedures. Instead, Pat spent close to nine years managing her heart failure with a pacemaker and various medications—treatments that failed to get her back on the dance floor.

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

PeopleCare

KevinCare

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 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.

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TomCare