In November 2021, Hillary Steffen of Turner, Oregon, experienced an unexpected turn of events when she lost her sense of taste and smell, and believed she had contracted COVID-19. Initially, Steffen, a 36-year-old mother of three, brushed off her low-grade fever as something non-alarming. However, she soon began experiencing tingling and numbness in her arms and fingers, accompanied by nausea and overall discomfort.

As the episodes persisted, Steffen's condition took a severe turn when she started vomiting and noticed worsening tingling and numbness. Alarmed, she felt compelled to seek medical help, leading her to the hospital. It was there that she received the shocking news from a cardiologist - she was suffering from congestive heart failure, likely caused by COVID-19.

Steffen's path to diagnosis was complex, with her initial symptoms being mistaken for COVID-related issues such as loss of taste and smell. Her fever and uncomfortable sensations were initially attributed to mastitis, an inflammation in the breast tissue, as she was also breastfeeding her 7-month-old baby at the time.

Doctors were baffled by Steffen's condition due to her overall good health and lack of pre-existing medical conditions. Despite testing positive for COVID-19, her symptoms were atypical and not respiratory in nature, further complicating the diagnosis process. Ultimately, she was treated for dehydration, which only temporarily stabilized her condition.

However, Steffen's health quickly deteriorated, leading to her transfer to a specialized hospital for advanced heart care. There, it was revealed that her heart's ejection fraction, a measure of its pumping efficiency, was alarmingly low - less than 10%, while a normal range is between 55% and 70%. To alleviate the fluid buildup in her chest, doctors attempted to drain it but were unsuccessful.

To save her life, Steffen received an Impella heart pump, initially placed in her femoral artery, which significantly improved her heart's function. Although the goal was for her heart to recover on its own, there was a real possibility that she might require a heart transplant.

Throughout her ordeal, Steffen and her medical team encountered the enigmatic nature of COVID-19 and its connection to myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle. While researchers have yet to fully understand the mechanisms behind this relationship, it is evident that viral infections can involve and weaken the heart.

Fortunately, Steffen's heart showed signs of improvement as she underwent treatment and received a more powerful Impella pump. Doctors conducted an MRI that revealed no scarring or permanent damage, providing hope for a full recovery. After spending 20 days in the hospital, she was able to return home.

Steffen's journey towards recovery involved taking medication, participating in cardiac rehabilitation for eight weeks, and gradually rebuilding her strength and endurance through exercise. Emotionally, it was a challenging process, particularly when she had to stop breastfeeding abruptly due to her illness.

Now, more than two years after her battle with heart failure, Steffen feels stronger than ever. She has emerged from this experience with a renewed sense of purpose, starting a podcast called "Heart to Heart" and becoming an advocate for heart failure awareness.

While Steffen's case is considered rare, it serves as a reminder of the potential severity of COVID-19 and its influence on heart health. Medical professionals emphasize the importance of recognizing symptoms of heart failure, especially if they persist or worsen rapidly.

Steffen is living proof that with proper medical intervention, determination, and hope, individuals can overcome life-threatening conditions and regain their health. Her inspiring story serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of awareness and advocacy.