At 18, Marty Anker was ready to put his life plan into action. A standout soccer player, he aspired to join the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), but his plan shifted when a mandatory physical test led to a formative revelation: an atrial septal defect.
“My surgeons explained that atrial septal defects are holes in the heart wall that separate the upper chambers of the heart,” Marty said. “They told me, ‘You will need surgery. You can have it now when you are young, and can likely recover quickly, or you can wait until you turn 30 and have your whole life upended.’”
Shortly after graduating high school, Marty underwent open heart surgery.
“It’s not the way things typically go for an 18-year-old, but the doctors were right, and I did have a quick recovery,” he said. “They told me to keep an active lifestyle, stay in good shape, eat well and I did. Fitness and nutrition are very important to me and my whole family.”
Beyond advising Marty to live a healthy lifestyle, his doctors also suggested Marty undergo regular screenings with his cardiologist, and for three decades, Marty maintained his dedication to his health and exercise, visiting his cardiologist every 10 years. Each visit affirmed what he felt — that he was strong and thriving. After relocation, Marty’s wife mentioned that Northside Hospital had a great cardiology program and suggested he meet Dr. Jeffrey Marshall. It was during this first visit with Dr. Marshall, at age 54, that Marty received another life-altering diagnosis: atrial fibrillation (A-fib), a condition that causes an irregular, and often rapid, heartbeat and can lead to stroke and heart failure.
“It was a complete shock,” he recalled. “I worked out four times a week and I thought if something was off, I would have noticed.”
Marty began a regimen of medications, including blood thinners, which provided limited relief. After two years of medication, Dr. Marshall recommended Marty undergo a cardioversion procedure. Unfortunately, this procedure provided only limited success, restoring his heart’s normal rhythm for only two days.
It was clear a more effective solution was needed.
Dr. Marshall recommended Marty talk with electrophysiologist, Dr. Alok Gambhir to discuss an ablation procedure. Marty agreed and, in a meeting with Dr. Gambhir, was introduced to a new technology called FARAPULSE™ that had been used many times in Europe and Australia, but not widely in the United States, as it had only been approved by the Food and Drug Administration in January 2024. The technology is a pulsed field ablation system that, unlike other A-fib procedures, relies on tissue-selective, non-thermal electric fields to ablate heart tissue and avoid damage to surrounding structures.
On April 8, 2024, Marty became the first patient in Georgia to receive a complete cardiac ablation using the cutting-edge treatment at Northside Hospital Gwinnett.
“Dr. Gambhir had me come early in the morning and by the afternoon, I was home,” Marty said. “Dr. Gambhir said all went as expected, and my recovery was smooth. I am now off medication and feel like myself again.”
Reflecting on his journey Marty acknowledged how he underestimated A-fib.
“I used to think it was something only older, unhealthy people dealt with,” he said. “But it affected me despite my healthy lifestyle. I didn’t feel any symptoms initially but did soon after my diagnosis. That is why regular monitoring is crucial. Now, some friends are also dealing with A-fib but are intimidated by surgery. To them, I would certainly recommend FARAPULSE; this technology goes to show how advanced and safe these procedures have become.”
Today, Marty is back to doing what he loves — exercising regularly, enjoying family time and living life to the fullest. His decision to trust Northside wasn’t difficult; his wife, who works at Northside, knew firsthand the level of care and expertise they offered.
“It was the only place for me,” Marty said. “I am grateful for a second chance to keep my heart and health on track and can’t thank the Northside team enough for their support and guidance. To have this kind of technology available near my home was life-changing and if anyone needs this type of care, know you can trust Northside’s staff with your life, like I did.”
Learn more about Northside Hospital Heart Institute.
*The health story shared here is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Patients should consult with their own physician before making medical decisions.
