8 VITALITY Summer 2026 When the heart can’t keep up A local man’s journey through AFib and heart failure Gary Parsons didn’t feel sick. He just felt worn out. The fatigue came slowly. Then the shortness of breath. Over time, everyday tasks became harder, even though he stayed active and busy. What Parsons didn’t know was that his heart rhythm condition was quietly causing serious damage. For years, Parsons lived with atrial fibrillation, also called AFib, a common heart rhythm problem that can become dangerous if left untreated. Treating an uncertain rhythm Parsons’ heart journey began in 2010 when he was diagnosed with AFib. At the time, he was active, preaching several times a week and traveling often with his wife, Bonita, for ministry work. “I just didn’t have any energy,” Parsons says. “I was short of breath and felt foggy. I didn’t feel sick—I just felt worn out.” Over the next decade, Parsons underwent three cardiac ablations and extensive treatment, including a nine-hour procedure at the Cleveland Heart Institute. His cardiologist at the CMH Heart Institute Clinic, John Best, M.D., managed Parsons’ care for years, adjusting treatment whenever symptoms returned. Difficult decisions In late 2024, Parsons’ condition declined. He had no strength, struggled to breathe and couldn’t lie flat to sleep. When Parsons went in expecting another treatment adjustment, Dr. Best delivered difficult but lifesaving news. “He told me, ‘Gary, I’ve taken you as far as I can take you. You either need a heart transplant or you need to go home and get your house in order,’” Parsons says. “That honesty saved my life.” Dr. Best referred Parsons to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, and soon Parsons was on his way there. Our cardiology team at the CMH Heart Institute Clinic is here to help you protect your heart health long before a crisis occurs—and to provide advanced, lifesaving treatment when it’s needed most. If you or someone you love has concerns about heart health, reach out to our cardiology specialists. Take the step that could change—or even save—a life. Call 417-328-6040 to schedule an appointment with a heart care specialist. Be an organ donor Find information about becoming an organ, eye and tissue donor at donatelife.net. Experts in heart care
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