As a commercial farmer, Daniel Taylor’s heart has been hard at work since he began farming with his family as a young child. His 1,500-acre farm, located in Northampton County, produces corn, soybeans and cotton. Today, Daniel runs the operation where he often works eight- to ten-hour days throughout the year.
An Abnormal EKG
Daniel thought he was in good health in 2013 when a home health nurse visited for a routine life insurance check-up. After an abnormal EKG, Daniel was advised to
have a stress test that provided alarming results. His doctor recommended he immediately undergo an exploratory cardiac catheterization and Daniel soon found himself making the two-hour trek to the WakeMed Heart Center – a hospital he knew and trusted after several family members were successfully treated there.
While no blockages were found, Daniel was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – a disease that causes the heart muscle to be abnormally thick. It often goes undiagnosed, but it can cause life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms or sudden cardiac death (SCD). For Daniel, his case appeared mild, and he continued with monitoring and medications to slow down his heart rate for the next few years under the care of WakeMed Heart & Vascular Cardiologist Dr. Virgil Wynia.
A Farmer Stopped in His Tracks
Upon Dr. Wynia’s retirement in 2016, Daniel’s care was transitioned to Dr. Frances Wood. She learned Daniel had developed shortness of breath and had occasional dizzy spells, so she ordered a cardiac MRI that revealed ‘the thickest heart Dr. Wood had ever seen.’ She then explained the very serious risks of his condition and recommended placement of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).
“Dr. Wood felt strongly I needed the device, and I trusted her. So, even though it was a month before harvest I went through with the procedure as recommended,” Daniel explains.
ICD Placement Surgery for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Daniel was referred to WakeMed Heart & Vascular electrophysiologist Dr. Marc Silver, who placed an ICD to help restore normal heart rhythm in the event of a life-threatening problem – which happens more often in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy if certain risk factors exist. Once the ICD was placed, Daniel continued along for three plus years with routine monitoring and experienced no cardiovascular events. Little did Daniel know that device would earn its keep soon enough – saving his life twice in a matter of just two years.
The Life-saving Power of ICD
On September 21, 2019, Daniel had just finished harvest when he attended an NCSU football game with some friends. In true North Carolina fall fashion, the weather was hot and humid with near 90-degree temperatures. After several hours outside, Daniel started feeling lightheaded, and he leaned on a car to steady himself.
The next thing he remembers is waking up with a crowd of bystanders around him asking if he was alright. After an evaluation by the on-site medical crew, he was sent to WakeMed. Dr. Wood visited and made some adjustments to his medication. She explained that the ICD had saved his life after his heart had gone into a dangerous rhythm known as ventricular fibrillation.
“At that point, I felt like I’d been given two birthdays,” explained Daniel. “After seeing so many of my family members’ lives taken by heart disease over the years, I had previously talked to my pastor about my concerns over dying of a heart condition. He told me ‘Your heart is like a wind-up clock and only God knows how tight yours is wound.’ While I don’t doubt that Dr. Wood was my hero that day, the way I see it is that God hit the snooze button on my clock. I knew I had much to be grateful for.”
ICD to the Rescue Again
Less than two years later, Daniel was given a third birthday. On June 4, 2021, he was sitting in his tractor waiting on a co-worker when the ICD took control once again, unbeknownst to Daniel.
“I was looking at my phone and started feeling dizzy. I felt like I nodded off for a bit, and I woke up and carried on with the rest of my day.”
Hours later, Daniel learned he’d gone into ventricular fibrillation again. He visited Dr. Wood, who further adjusted his medications, and now he’s back to routine monitoring.
“Daniel is so fortunate that his ICD was in place for both of these life-threatening events,” Dr. Wood explains. “In many cases, these devices are like insurance policies that never get used. In Daniel’s case, however, his ICD has literally saved his life twice. He is lucky to be alive, and I’m so grateful he trusted us with his heart care.”
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