Second Opinion Means a Second Chance for Saint Luke’s Patient

Angela Alvarez prided herself on her active lifestyle—running three miles three to four times per week. A few years ago, she started to experience trouble doing everyday activities.

“I had a really hard time doing stairs,” Angela said. “I would get to the top of the stairs and was breathing harder than normal.

After experiencing a fainting spell, Angela was ultimately diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure. Her original plan of action was to undergo a heart transplant, but she sought a second opinion at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute.

“There were a lot of little miracles that happened during this whole time,” Angela said. “The second opinion I received, that was a miracle too.

Angela met with Brett Sperry, MD, a heart failure and transplantation cardiologist at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute, who identified Angela’s heart issue that spared her a heart transplant.

“Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory condition that can affect any part of the body, but most commonly the lungs and/or heart,” Dr. Sperry said. “Angela fit some of the signs and symptoms that we worry about for cardiac sarcoidosis like a drop in her heart function—or ejection fraction—and slowing of the heart rhythm.

After testing Angela for cardiac sarcoidosis, Dr. Sperry and his team sprang into action with a collaborative approach.

“We worked with our rheumatology colleagues at Saint Luke’s to get her treatment, and the inflammation in her heart and lungs has completely resolved,” he said.

Angela continues to attend regular appointments, and closely monitors her heart rhythm. She’s also returning to active hobbies.

“I’ve been skiing and walking a lot, and I’m going to Italy at the end of April, a country that has a lot of stairs,” Angela said. “I’m really excited.”

“She has done very well, and her heart function has actually started to improve—we are very happy with how she’s doing,” Dr. Sperry said.

“I just want people to know about this,” Angela said. “Initial symptoms were so subtle, that I ignored them. Don’t ignore the symptoms—the shortness of breath, the heart palpitations.”

Angela added that she hopes to continue to advocate for other patients, to prevent the worst.

“Maybe this happened so I can be a mouthpiece for those that don’t know about it. If I can save lives, that would be my mission,” said Angela.

Saint Luke’s Cardiovascular Consultants has an expert team certified in specialty areas of cardiology, including interventional cardiology, echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, vascular cardiology, preventive cardiology, electrophysiology, and advanced heart failure and transplant. Learn more here.