D
avid Legasse has a message: If you feel something, say something. That advice saved his life Diabetes has been a part of David Legasse’s life for more than a decade. In that time, he has learned to live with the disease and knows the signs that indicate his sugar levels are too high or too low—when he needs something sweet or when a complete meal is in order. Last year, the owner of The Salt Table shops felt something different. The then-71-year-old, who was generally in good health, was feeling more tired than usual and had experienced an episode of feeling faint, which sent him to see his primary care physician at St. Joseph’s/ Candler’s Primary Care in Pooler. Legasse’s doctor, Knar Mesrobian, who practices family medicine and has seen Legasse since 2018, became equally concerned over his new symptoms. “She listened to my heart and didn’t like what she heard,” Legasse said. “I’ve had a heart murmur all my life and I had told her about that, but she didn’t like the way it sounded this time.” A Doctor’s Life-Saving Catch Legasse said Dr. Mesrobian knew that fatigue was an unusual symptom for him because he is typically full of energy. Blood work revealed nothing to indicate another problem, so Dr. Mesrobian assumed Legasse’s heart was the source of his new complaints. She immediately referred him to a cardiologist for further evaluation. “It was Dr. Mesrobian’s observation that something wasn’t quite right during my checkup and her referral to the heart team may have very well saved my life,” Legasse said. He said he is certain that he is living today because Dr. Mesrobian listened to him. “She pays attention,” Legasse said. “I know she’s incredibly busy and treats all her patients the same, but when I’m there I feel like I’m the only thought on her mind, like there’s no one else in the office but me.” Dr. Mesrobian said that as she gets to know her patients, she is often able to pick up on both significant and subtle differences in their health—differences the patients may not have recognized. “I’ve had patients come to simply establish care, but in their preliminary screening, we’ll find diabetes she said. “And they’ll have no idea because they feel fine. I tell patients continuity and preventative care are important. Consistency gives us a home base.” Had Legasse just continued on, not worrying about getting his heart checked, who knows what sort of consequence that might have had, Dr. Mesrobian said. Legasse said he knows exactly what may have happened. “I don’t know that I’d 30
www.PoolerMagazine.com | January/February 2022
DAVID LEGASSE: Finding The Gift in Each Day Story by Walinda West | Photos by Todd Wood
