Wellness Fair Miracle: Judith Eaton's Life-Saving Discovery

For years, Judith Eaton had been a familiar face at the Good Samaritan Women's Wellness Fair. She had dedicated much of her professional life to Good Samaritan, retiring from there in 2014. Even after retirement, her commitment to health and wellness never wavered, as she regularly attended the annual fair to stay on top of her health.

In 2022, Judith attended the fair with her usual enthusiasm. As part of her routine check-up, she had blood drawn for a series of tests, including a lipid profile, blood sugar, and a glomerular filtration rate (GFR). When she received her results through MyChart, she noticed something concerning: her GFR was 49, well below the normal level of 60 for women her age.

Judith immediately took action and scheduled an appointment with her primary care provider, Vonetta Vories, NP-C. Vonetta, sharing Judith’s concern, referred her to a kidney specialist for further evaluation. To her relief, Judith's kidneys were fine. However, the specialist discovered something unexpected—a parathyroid adenoma that was causing the abnormal results.

As Judith prepared for the surgery to address the adenoma, she underwent pre-operative testing, including blood work and an electrocardiogram (EKG). Shockingly, Judith, who had felt perfectly healthy, failed the EKG. Further tests, including a treadmill test with Dr. Larry Herron at Good Samaritan and a stress test, also revealed concerning results. Ultimately, a heart catheterization with Dr. Philip Bacidore confirmed the need for immediate intervention.

Dr. Bacidore delivered the sobering news: Judith needed to be transported by ambulance to Evansville for open heart surgery. Reflecting on this moment, Judith shared, “My doctors in Evansville said that I was so lucky that this was found. I didn’t have any symptoms. So I think I’m pretty lucky.”

Judith's journey underscores the critical importance of regular health screenings. “You can feel just fine but have an underlying problem that you know nothing about. This was a total shock. I had no symptoms. Make sure you stay on top of your health,” Judith emphasized.

Despite the ordeal, Judith remains an advocate for the Women's Wellness Fair, continuing to attend annually. She praises the fair for its comprehensive services: “They have so many other great booths at the fair like nutrition, exercise, bone density and blood pressure checks. It’s a great service for the community.”

Judith Eaton's story is a powerful reminder of the importance of proactive health monitoring and the potentially life-saving benefits of community health initiatives like the Good Samaritan Women's Wellness Fair. Her journey from a routine wellness check to life-saving surgery highlights how seemingly ordinary events can lead to extraordinary outcomes. Through her experience, Judith encourages everyone to prioritize their health, even when they feel perfectly fine.