Magnolia Matters - 2018 Fall/Winter

For more information regarding Magnolia Regional Health Center, please call 662.293.1000 or visit MRHC.org Magnolia Regional Health Center Heart & Vascular Center State-of-the-art cardiology clinic right in the heart of Alcorn County • Comprehensive diagnostic testing and interventional care for all heart disorders • Nationally accredited echocardiography/ imaging labs • Cardiovascular and thoracic surgery Symptoms of a heart attack may include: • Pain or tightness in the chest, neck, back, or arms • Fatigue, lightheadedness • Cold sweats, sweating, or clamminess • Shortness of breath • Heart palpitations • Nausea, vomiting, or indigestion make an appointment with Dr. Prather, his chest pain increased tenfold very suddenly. At this point, he knew emergency action was required, and because of his pain level, he knew he had to call 911 instead of driving himself. Upon arrival at the emergency department, he was greeted by Dr. Prather and Japheth Baker, DO, Emergency Medicine Physician at MRHC. According to Hodum, “After arriving to the ED, Dr. Baker and Dr. Prather were both actively working to determine what the issues were. My blood pressure and levels were perfectly normal, but they knew something wasn’t right.” Action ensued as he was rushed to the catheterization lab and transferred to a table. Hodum explained, “Out of nowhere, Dr. Prather calls his team and has them to rush me down to the cath lab to urgently open me up.” The cath team, under Dr. Prather’s command, began to blow up a balloon in his artery so that a stent could be inserted. Hodum's pain, with the first stent in place, subsided immediately from 10 on the pain scale to 4. After exploring his other arteries, the team found another blockage and placed a stent there as well. “He [Dr. Prather] and his team ballooned my arteries and inserted stents into two of them, discovering that they were almost completely blocked. Immediately after, my pain completely disappeared!” said Hodum. Just a couple of days later, Hodum was back at home and recovering nicely. “If it weren’t for the knowledge and awareness of the providers at Magnolia, I would have died!” said Hodum emphatically. He continued, “Thank you, Magnolia. Because of you, my family and my church family have me back again!” www.MRHC.org MAGNOLIA MATTERS 21