A Clovis woman nearly died from cardiogenic shock. She finally got to thank her doctors
Alison Ford never really got the chance to thank the doctors who saved her life.
The Clovis mother was hospitalized with a heart condition last June and because of COVID hadn’t the chance to reconnect with the staff Clovis Community Medical Center, where she had stayed for nearly two weeks.
On Wednesday, the hospital hosted a reunion with Ford and Dr. Alfred Valles to celebrate American Heart Month.
Ford was brought to the hospital with what she original thought was simple pain from an old injury. The pain began to radiate down her arm and she became nauseated and was forced to call 911. By the time EMTs got her to the hospital, she was unconscious.
Valles determined she was in cardiogenic shock, caused by takotsubo cardiomyopathy, or broken-heart syndrome. Her heart wasn’t pumping enough blood.
The doctor implanted a special heart pump, which allowed the heart to rest, and within three days Ford’s heart function had improved. Within 12 days she was back at home and back at work a couple weeks later without having to go to physical therapy or have any in-home care.
“I attribute that to the fantastic care that I got here,” Ford said.