Something Was Wrong
The Story of Alicia Simmons
In the past, no one listened to Alicia Simmons about her health concerns.
Her high blood pressure was shrugged off as “hereditary” and a heart murmur as “no big deal.” She told her previous provider about her concerning symptoms: severe fatigue, shortness of breath that was getting worse, and chest pain when she exerted herself. Still, no one believed her.
Then one night, Alicia saw a segment on the news featuring Singing River Interventional Cardiologist Cherie Champagne, MD. Suddenly no longer able to ignore the nagging feeling that something was wrong, she called Singing River Cardiology and made an appointment.
At last, a provider finally listened to Alicia. Dr. Champagne affirmed her, confirming that her symptoms were not normal, and they were not “all in her head”—they were classic signs of cardiovascular disease.
After testing, it was found that Alicia was born with only two out of three leaflets in her aortic valve—the valve in the heart that allows oxygenated blood to flow to the body. The congenital condition, a bicuspid aortic valve, was the culprit behind her symptoms. She was diagnosed with severe aortic valve stenosis, which requires open heart surgery to replace the aortic valve.
Enter Singing River’s accomplished and experienced cardiothoracic surgeon, Jason Williams, MD. He and his team performed Alicia’s surgery and added an implantable device to help her heart rest during her recovery period. Within five to seven days, she was ready to go home.
Fully recovered from her surgery, Alicia is the healthy, 52-year-old grandmother that most people assumed she had been. “Now, I know that I’m better.”
“When you find someone that actually goes down to your level and listens, and believes and wants to get to the bottom of it, that’s a good doctor to me. And I found her here at Singing River.”
Nearly half of all people in the U.S. have some type of cardiovascular disease, and it can prove fatal if left untreated. If you don’t feel well, please get your heart checked. Singing River offers the latest diagnostic testing for heart disease, including CT calcium scoring. Talk to your provider about making an appointment at Singing River Cardiology today.
