Pastor Kelvis Reid knew that he was taking a risk to present Christmas with his family, but he could not imagine spending the holidays in some other way. He was only detected a complex position called Al amylidosis and wanted to spend time with his family and congregation before starting in a long treatment journey.
Dr, Director, Cardio-Ouncology at Etrium Health. Amar Parikh diagnosed the reed and warned him of the risk of a major heart event. Parikh also trained Reid’s family as to how to administer CPR, if his heart stopped.
Reid was about to return to the hospital shortly after the holiday, but after promoting Christmas service with his wife and children, he felt a burning sensation in his chest.
“I saw my wife, and I said, ‘Oh, maternal uncle.” I remember, “Reed said.” And then I don’t remember anything else again by the end of January. “
Kelvis reed 
Reid experienced the arrest of a major heart. CPR training of his family saved his life, said by Parikh. He was hospitalized and remained unconscious for weeks. Even after waking up, the situation remained serious: he was still having a heart attack, and his condition was derogatory. He was relying on life support and dialysis. He was very weak to keep a cell phone in his ear.
“As I was sitting there with all these hoses and bags and everything was tilted to me, I asked my family,” What do you want to do? ” “Reid remembered.” He said, “We want you to fight.” And I said, “Okay.” ,
What is al amylidosis?
Amyloidosis There is a process that begins when plasma cells in the bone marrow start making abnormal proteins that gather on organs and tissues, Cleveland Clinic according toAl amylidosis refers to a version of the condition that mainly affects the heart and kidneys.
Treating the condition is different when a person is diagnosed. But diagnosis often delays. A patient can see five doctors before receiving the correct diagnosis, said Parikh. Reid began to experience symptoms in 2022, but was not diagnosed until December 2023.
“People feel that it is very rare, when in fact, we call it un-combat rare disease. It is actually more common than us feeling,” the assay said. “There is a lot of overlap with other situations.
Al amylidosis can cause atrium fibrillation and fluid buildup, the reed was diagnosed in two common conditions, the Cleveland Clinic says. This can eventually lead to dangerous heart rhythm and advanced heart failure. Reid’s heart was so damaged that the surgeons found that it was “hard like cement,” he said.
“Asking for mercy”
Parikh stated that in its early stages, al amylidosis can be treated when cardiologists work with hematologists, “closure plasma cells in the bone marrow” and prevent the production of irregular protein. But once the condition affects the heart, it is “really difficult to reverse,” said, and if it reaches a serious phase, it is a “essential end phase”, in which “there is no way to reverse it.” At that point, the only treatment is an organ transplant. But first, patients should be stable enough for acute surgery.
Kelvis reed 
Parikh and other reid doctors decided to start him on an amyloidosis medicine. He also urged him to roam the hospital floor and maintain his strength. Their condition began to stabilize, but Parikh still had to advocate the reid, then 65, to achieve a high -demanding heart and kidney transplant.
“They really fought for me. He went there and said, ‘he is 65 years old, but he looks 40. He is in shape, he never drinks, he has never smoked. He has done everything,” Reid recalled. Asked for his own comments, Reid said that he was “a man sitting on Daya seat, asking for mercy.”
The argument worked. On February 10, 2024, Reid performed a heart transplant. This was the birthday of his late mother, she said, who understood the process even more. The next day, he had a kidney transplant. The next day, he was awake, a few days before the expectation of doctors. Eight days later, he was home.
Kelvis reed 
A meaningful recovery milestone
Reid said that his recovery was harder than his hospitalization. He was taking 37 bullets in a day and required intensive rehabilitation. His family dropped everything to help him. He spent months in isolation because the drug he had with him was also worn in his immune system and left them at risk of infection.
But Reid set an ambitious target. In 2024, on the day of his heart transplant, he saw nurses and doctors participate in a 5K run in a hospital.
“I said,” I am going to run it with you next year, you just give me time, “said Reid.
Kelvis reed 
After months of rehabilitation, the reed was able to participate in the race. About half a dozen nurses who took care of him were there, as the doctor put her on life support. Seeing how far he would come in just a year, “really, was really good,” Reed said.
Eighteen months after their transplant, Reed has been able to cut its drug diet in half. That does not show any signal of organ rejection. Their heart is under health control. He has returned to his pulp and said he encourages his circles to examine any health symptoms that they find dangerous.
“I tell everyone,” we are surprisingly, and when you are not doing your amazing work, you need to check on it and see what is happening with it, “Reed said.
