Gratitude Stories - Joanna
Joanna Thanks ‘Angel Army’ For Saving Her Life
It was October of 2024, and for several days, Joanna Ravello Goods was experiencing what she’d later describe as “a weird feeling” marked by a bit of lightheadedness and the sense that she didn’t feel “fully present”. But it wasn’t anything severe, so she wasn’t overly concerned at first.
Maybe she was just coming down with a cold, Joanna thought, or ate something that didn’t agree with her. Or, perhaps, she was feeling a bit anxious; she had been experiencing a few lifechanging events in the months prior.
Just to be on the safe side, Joanna visited her primary care doctor. Results of testing there indicated the possible presence of blood abnormalities that needed to be investigated more thoroughly—and right away. So, she decided to go to the emergency department at The Miriam.
“I could have gone to another hospital,” Joanna recounts, “but I had a relationship with The Miriam. I was a candy striper there in the 1980s and had relatives who worked there, including my parents and several of my siblings. So, I was aware of the exceptional care provided at the hospital and knew I’d be in the best hands.”
She didn’t know at the time, but that decision may have saved Joanna’s life.
Many caregivers treating one rare disorder
Upon arrival at The Miriam, Joanna’s condition worsened. Hematologist/oncologist Matthew Hadfield, DO, who was on rounds in the ED, says, “Joanna was quite confused and not stringing things together appropriately or being cohesive.” Dr. Hadfield had reviewed her lab work and noticed her platelet count was dangerously low. This finding, coupled with other lab abnormalities and confused state, lead to a strong suspicion that Joanna may be suffering from Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP).
A rare disorder of the blood coagulation system, TTP causes clots to form in small blood vessels throughout the body and can lead to a number of life-threatening complications including stroke, seizures, heart attack, and kidney problems.
Additional testing at The Miriam confirmed what Dr. Hadfield had suspected, and within hours Joanna’s comprehensive treatment was underway. Over the next 12 days—first in the ED, then the ICU, and later on The Miriam’s fourth floor—Joanna received plasma exchanges to “clean” her blood and filter out damaged elements, blood transfusions, corticosteroids, and a regime of other immunosuppression medications. Constant monitoring and support were also provided, as Joanna’s care team at The Miriam, which numbered more than 60 strong, put her health and well-being at the center of their efforts and ensured a successful outcome.
Not only medically, but financially as well.
One of the meds Joanna was administered was a targeted specialty drug that increased her platelet counts rapidly, ensuring she was out of ICU quicker and able to stop plasma exchange sooner. Absent this drug, Joanna could have been inpatient at The Miriam for many weeks longer. But this miracle drug came with a $9,000-a-day price tag and she had to take it for a month. Her insurance would have picked up some of the expense, but Joanna would have been on the hook for a hefty balance.
"I had confidence in the therapeutic protocol we were outlining, but I didn’t want the treatment to be toxic to Joanna financially," explains hematologist/oncologist Andrew Hsu, MD. Thankfully, Dr. Hsu is highly experienced with unearthing discount drug programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. “For this particular drug, the eligibility requirement is that the patient must receive one dose of the drug in the hospital to qualify, then the remainder can be done outpatient. It’s free if you do that. But if you don’t, the cost is not covered,” Dr. Hsu says. “Patients don’t know that and even many physicians are not aware of such provisions.”
‘The very best of healthcare and humanity’
Post discharge, Joanna continued to work closely with her care team to address all the physical and psychological impacts of TTP and says The Miriam made her transition back to good health remarkably seamless.
“Every health professional I encountered—doctors, specialists, nurses, certified nursing assistants, medical assistants, unit secretaries, dietary aides, environmental services staff—left an indelible impact on me. This literal angel army ensured I felt safe, cared for, and hopeful during my darkest moments and restored me to better health. The Miriam Hospital embodies the very best of healthcare and humanity, and I will forever hold deep gratitude for every person’s effort.”