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Donald Whitehead of Athens shares how a second opinion saved his life.
My father had his first heart attack at 52, and his siblings died from heart attacks at 37, 42 and 62. My own heart problems began at 40, in December 1987, while on a business trip to Cleveland, Ohio. Despite classic symptoms, I dismissed them as indigestion until my employer insisted that I go to the hospital. Tests showed abnormal blood work and an angioplasty was performed — the first of many procedures over the next 30 years. I was a smoker then, but quit immediately afterward.
I continued cardiac care in Athens, Georgia, but suffered a second heart attack in 1997 while vacationing in Florida, leading to my first stent placement. Later that year, I experienced another heart attack — despite maintaining a strict vegetarian diet and an intense fitness routine that included running, cycling, and marathon training. From age 50 to 77, I’ve had 17 stents placed in my right coronary artery, along with numerous angioplasties and heart catheterizations.
In the summer of 2024, I developed fatigue and angina. A heart cath showed my right coronary artery was blocked entirely, and my local cardiologist said nothing could be done. Frustrated and symptomatic, I sought a second opinion.
Music has been my lifelong passion — I’ve played saxophone professionally since age 14 — but shortness of breath made performing and even golfing nearly impossible. After talking with family and friends, I was referred to Dr. Daniel Winston at Northside Cardiac Surgery in Gainesville, known for his outstanding cardiac care. Dr. Winston’s calm, reassuring manner put me at ease. Before considering open-heart surgery, he recommended consulting Dr. Prad Tummala at Northside Hospital Heart Institute, saying if anyone could reopen the artery, it would be him.
Dr. Tummala reviewed my records and believed he could successfully open the blockage. He patiently explained the procedure, even sketching a diagram so I could understand every step. His confidence and kindness gave me hope. The following week, he performed the catheterization and successfully reopened my artery. I felt relief almost immediately and spent the night in an exceptional room at Northside Hospital Gwinnett, cared for by an outstanding team — from “Q” at check-in to Brittany in pre-op and my nurse, Tweedy.
From my first visit with Dr. Winston to the procedure with Dr. Tummala, only three weeks passed. I’m deeply grateful for the expertise, collaboration and compassion of the entire Northside cardiovascular team. Thanks to them, I have a new lease on life — and I encourage anyone facing a difficult cardiac diagnosis to seek a second opinion, especially from the specialists at Northside Hospital Heart Institute.
Learn more about Northside Hospital Heart Institute.
