Army connection leaves mother with a grateful heart

Retired Army Officer Maria Miolla traveled to San Antonio from Virginia Beach to care for her daughter, who was recovering from multiple surgeries. A few days before Mother’s Day, Maria woke up with chest pain.

“Being in Texas, away from my normal environment, with my daughter at home after six surgeries, and I was having her husband take me to the hospital,” said Maria. “I was worried if I was going to live or not.”

Maria arrived at Methodist Hospital Texsan’s emergency department having a heart attack. She had a blockage in her arteries that needed immediate intervention. Maria was alone. Her son-in-law had to return home to his own family, Maria’s daughter and grandchildren. Maria’s husband booked a flight to San Antonio, but he had not yet arrived. Staff quickly stepped in to help.

“The first thing that happened was a young, nice woman said, ‘You look like your feet are cold. Let me get you some socks.’ She got me some bright yellow socks. That made me feel welcome,” Maria recalls. “Then, a nice young man came over and held my hand. He told me I was going to be okay. He had that touch and empathy that is so rare.”

Maria needed an immediate cardiac intervention to open up her blocked artery and restore blood flow to her heart, before the lack of blood flow caused more damage. She was taken to the Texsan Catheterization Lab where she met Dr. Jamil Malik, an interventional cardiologist and retired U.S. Army Colonel. There was an immediate bond. She knew right away that she was where she meant to be.

“When I got into the cath lab, Dr. Malik was playing my favorite music, The Gypsy Kings, because it’s his favorite music, too,” she said. “It was like my hand was being held through this entire process.”

Dr. Malik placed a stent into Maria’s blocked artery that allowed blood to flow to her heart muscle. She said that for several months, prior to her heart attack, she had been feeling weak and tired. She was taking naps, every afternoon, just to be able to get through the day. She thought her chest pains were just indigestions, but they were signs of a more serious issue.

“Fatigue and shortness of breath are the most common symptoms of angina, a type of chest pain in women,” explained Dr. Malik. “Women present differently than men. It’s not the normal fatigue we all feel. It’s the sudden decline in being able to do normal activities. That’s what you need to pay attention to.”

After the procedure, Maria immediately felt relief; she could breathe easier. She knew she was going to be okay. When her family arrived, Maria joked about the care she received from her team at Texsan telling them about the first breakfast she received after her procedure.

“The staff had placed an orchid on my tray. I told my girls, ‘This hotel is amazing. I love the room service!’ But honestly, the staff was wonderful; the nurses, the physical therapists, they are all caring individuals,” said Maria.

Maria was grateful to be discharged on the Saturday before Mother’s Day. For a short time, she had her husband and three daughters together, something that hadn’t happened in many years.

Several weeks later Dr. Malik received a letter in the mail that included a Military Challenge Coin from Maria’s daughter’s military unit. He was touched by the gesture. Giving someone a challenge coin is a longstanding military tradition to honor someone for a job well done. He is displaying it proudly in his office.

“I put the coin next to the one I received from the Secretary of Defense. I think this one is more meaningful because it came from someone I was able help directly.”