Kansas City mother stresses importance of heart health awareness

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - February is Heart Health Month, and it kicks off with Wear Red for Women Day. One Kansas City Mom wants everyone to know about a heart condition that primarily affects women, but it’s one that comes with no warning. The silent killer impacted her family in a big way.

“Nikko is 3 and Ellis is 1,” said Isabel Hodes beaming as she shared about her family.

In the picture of the family of four, you see bright smiles on Isabel, husband Jack and even young son Nikko. The three look lovingly at Ellis, the newest member of the family. What you don’t know is behind the smiles, there was almost a world of heartbreak.

“I was home alone, I was working from home,” said Isabel.

She remembers it like yesterday. Five months after Nikko was born, Isabel was working from home.

“I started feeling this weird pain or pressure in my back,” said Isabel.

Isabel said the pain started moving up her neck, to the head and then into her chest.

“I texted my husband and I said, “I don’t feel well,” said Isabel.

In no time, Jack jumped into action.

“I think the one thing he particularly caught onto was how short of breath I was feeling,” said Isabel.

She was rushed to the emergency room. Through a series of tests, it was determined Isabel had SCAD, spontaneous coronary artery dissection.

“It is really an injury, a blood clot or a tear to the blood vessel that supplies the heart muscle,” said Dr. Anna Grodzinsky.

Grodzinsky is a Cardiologist with St. Luke’s Muriel I. Kauffman Women’s Heart Center.

“On average, we see about 2 patients a month with this condition to our practice,” said Dr. Grodzinsky.

According to the National Institutes of Health, SCAD is a condition that predominately affects women. 90% of SCAD patients are women.

“It is the most common cause of heart attacks around pregnancies and in women younger than 50,” said Grodzinsky.

SCAD hit Isabel not once, but twice.

“I can see it like you clear as day,” said Isabel.

The day of last year’s Chief’s Victory parade, the very same day she came home from the hospital after her second son Ellis was born.

“The team has made it onto the stage at Union Station and I started to feel that same pressure in my back in between my shoulder blades,” recalled Isabel.

Again, Isabel went back to St. Luke’s, one of the few hospitals in the region trained to recognize and treat SCAD.

“We try to allow the artery to heal on its own which it does generally on its own in one to three months’ time,” said Grodzinsky.

Isabel is now on the road to recovery after two heart attacks at just 35 years old.

“We don’t have heart disease in my family so generally healthy as far as I knew,” said Isabel.

It’s why the doctor and patient are sharing the story now.

“I’m still here with two very lovely healthy boys and my husband so I’m on the good side of it, but it good have gone very different,” said Isabel.

Which is why they say now, always listen to your body.

“If there is a change to seek medical attention,” said Grodzinsky.

“It’s a serious event, it’s a heart attack,” said Isabel.

Grodzinksy said to be aware of any changes in pains you’re not used to, ongoing fatigue, nausea, and shortness of breath. Shortness of breath being the main indicator. If you feel any of these symptoms, you should seek help immediately.

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