Before arriving at Atrium Health, 37-year-old Gabbi Byrd spent months searching for answers. She battled crushing fatigue and shortness of breath, was told it was pneumonia, then bronchitis, and cycled through rounds of antibiotics that never worked. All the while, her body grew weaker and the pounds fell away, nearly 80 in total.
Then, on May 13, everything came to a head. Gabbi looked in the mirror and saw her face drooping. Moments later, she felt a static-like tingling down her right side. At the hospital, she suffered a seizure. Tests revealed what had been missed for months: multiple strokes, a blood clot in her heart and advanced-stage heart failure.
A critical transfer
Gabbi was rushed to Atrium Health Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute, where she came under the care of Dr. Joseph Mishkin, and Dr. Amar Doshi, advanced heart failure and transplant cardiologist’s.
“She came to us very sick,” Mishkin said. “Our role was not just to stabilize her, but to help her understand what was happening and guide her through the next steps.”
A heart transplant was not possible. Underlying conditions raised her infection risk, making surgery too dangerous. Instead, her team recommended an LVAD, or left ventricular assist device, a mechanical pump that helps the heart circulate blood.
“In young patients like Gabbi, we think long term,” Mishkin said. “An LVAD can restore quality of life and, years down the road, she may become a candidate for transplant. It gives her a chance to live her life and be with her family.”
On June 2, Gabbi underwent LVAD surgery with Dr. Eric Skipper, cardiothoracic surgeon at Atrium Health.
The team behind the care
From her first days at Sanger, Gabbi said she felt the difference. Cherie Cone, M.S.W., a social worker, guided her through complex decisions, while former patients shared their own LVAD experiences.
“As soon as I got to Atrium, I could tell a world of difference,” Gabbi said. “The doctors and nurses made me feel safe. They gave me hope when I had none.”
“This team-based approach is intentional,” Mishkin said. “We have built a system of care that supports patients through every phase of heart failure, from rapid transfer and stabilization to long-term support and education. Once patients enter our program, they become part of our family.”
Rebuilding strength
Gabbi spent 56 days in the hospital, separated from her husband, Byrd, and their young son, Jaxon. Byrd balanced work, household responsibilities and daily visits to the hospital.
“It has been the hardest time of my life,” Gabbi said. “But I am grateful to be alive and grateful for the people who got me here.”
Now home, Gabbi is rebuilding her strength through cardiac rehab three times a week. Her doctors continue to monitor her progress and determine what comes next.
A lesson in resilience
This fall, Gabbi plans to join other patients and families at Atrium Health’s annual Celebration of Life event, which honors heart failure, transplant and LVAD patients. For Mishkin, it is one of the most inspiring moments of the year.
“Celebration of Life is a lesson in resilience,” he said. “We can all learn from what these patients and their families endure. It reminds us of what is truly important in life.”
For Gabbi, that resilience is deeply personal. “I miss the days when I could just play with my son without worrying about wires or batteries,” she said. “But I know God is not done with me yet. I am alive, I am home with my family, and I have hope for the future.”
LVAD: What patients should know
What is an LVAD?
An LVAD, or left ventricular assist device, is a mechanical pump that helps a weakened heart circulate blood throughout the body.
Who needs one?
LVADs are used for people with advanced heart failure whose hearts can no longer pump blood effectively on their own.
How does it work?
The device is implanted during open-heart surgery and connects to the heart’s main pumping chamber. It runs on batteries that patients carry outside the body, which must be changed regularly.
Is it permanent?
For some patients, an LVAD is a long-term therapy. For others, it serves as a “bridge to transplant,” supporting the heart until a donor organ becomes available.
If you or a loved one is living with advanced heart failure, Atrium Health Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute offers expert care and advanced therapies, including LVAD and transplant options. Learn more about our program and how we can help you take the next step toward healing.
