As a special needs teacher at Reidland Middle School, Cindy Fox knows that test scores don’t always accurately reflect potential.

Fox, 55, was reminded of this when she “passed” a stress echo test on her heart.

Fox, a problem-solver by nature, knew that her potential to develop heart disease was high. Her mother suffered her first heart attack at 39 and died of heart disease at 47. Fox, along with all four sisters, also battled elevated cholesterol levels. She took cholesterol-lowering medication and closely monitored her health.

Cardiologist Patrick Withrow, M.D., listens to Cindy Fox’s heart.

“Being in tune with your own body is important,” said Fox. “No one knows you better than you know yourself.”

That philosophy saved Fox’s life when early one March morning she noticed something just didn’t feel quite right.

“The sad part is, I don’t believe I had any symptoms,” said Fox. “I really wasn’t having any pain; I just woke up not feeling well.”

Fox’s intuition told her to seek help. A sudden pain in her shoulder convinced her to wake her husband and go to Western Baptist Hospital.

Cardiologist Lowell Roberts, M.D., was on call that morning and placed two stents in Fox’s heart during a heart catheterization. (What is a stent? See page 7.)

“I feel like he saved my life,” said Fox.

Fox began cardiac rehabilitation at Western Baptist, where she gained strength, energy and a tremendous support system.

Three years following her heart attack, Fox again began to sense that something didn’t feel normal. In September 2006, she heeded her heart’s subtle messages and sought help.

“I just felt tired,” said Fox, “as if I had no energy. I was short of breath and occasionally felt sick to my stomach.”

Cardiologist Patrick Withrow, M.D., performed a heart cath, discovered blockages in her arteries and placed two stents in her heart. After a brief hospital stay, Fox returned to work, eager to do what she does best: teach.

Cardiologist J. Kenneth Ford, M.D., (right) places a stent in a heart patient at Western Baptist.

Her message to women is simple: Heed your heart.

“Unlike men, women’s symptoms aren’t always as obvious. That’s why it’s so important to listen to that inner voice telling you something isn’t right,” said Fox. “If suddenly you’re short of breath when normally you wouldn’t be, take notice. Don’t hesitate and don’t wait for something to happen. Taking care of your heart is one assignment you definitely don’t want to fail.”