At 64 years old, Warren Donaldson faced a health crisis that he initially dismissed. Experiencing troubling symptoms like shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and occasional dizzy spells, he tried to ignore these signs. However, as his condition worsened, particularly by January 2024, it became increasingly challenging for him to maintain his fitness routine at the gym. By June, his symptoms had escalated to the point where he struggled to participate in casual basketball games with his friends.
The turning point for Donaldson came when he saw NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar discussing his own diagnosis of atrial fibrillation, a serious heart arrhythmia that heightens the risk of strokes and other complications. Having long admired Abdul-Jabbar, Donaldson was moved by the former basketball star’s public service campaign encouraging individuals to seek medical attention for their symptoms. This prompted him to schedule an appointment with his primary care physician.
During the examination, Donaldson’s doctor noticed a protruding vein in his neck, leading to an urgent referral to the emergency room. At Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, doctors made a startling discovery: an orange-sized mass was growing inside his heart. "I couldn't believe I was carrying something that large in my chest," Donaldson reflected on the shocking diagnosis.
The mass discovered in Donaldson's heart was identified as a pericardiac cyst, a rare condition affecting approximately 1 in 100,000 people. Dr. Shana Osho, a cardiac surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital, explained that these cysts typically develop on the pericardium—the fluid-filled sac surrounding the heart—and are often found incidentally during other medical examinations. Most pericardiac cysts are small, but Donaldson’s was significantly larger, prompting further investigation.
What made Donaldson's case even more unusual was the cyst's location. Instead of being situated within the pericardium, it was embedded in the muscle of his heart. This rare positioning was exerting pressure on the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT), responsible for transporting blood from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery. The compression hindered blood flow to his lungs, causing his heart to compensate by beating faster, leading to his distressing symptoms.
After identifying the mass, Dr. Persida Drotar, a cardiothoracic surgeon, devised a treatment strategy. While most pericardiac cysts can be treated with minimally invasive procedures, the size of Donaldson's cyst necessitated a more aggressive surgical approach. Prior to the operation, Donaldson underwent a week of pre-operative examinations. The anticipation was nerve-wracking, and he contemplated withdrawing from the surgery. "My heartbeat started fluttering to like, 180, 190 beats a minute ... and they sent me to the ICU," he recalled, realizing that he was meant to undergo the surgery.
In the operating room, Dr. Drotar discovered that the cyst was deeply embedded in the wall of Donaldson's RVOT, complicating the removal process. The surgical team utilized a heart-lung machine to maintain circulation while they temporarily stopped his heart. The intricate procedure took about five hours, during which they successfully excised the cyst and reconstructed the RVOT.
Upon waking, Donaldson was overjoyed to learn that the surgery had gone well and that he could resume his normal activities following a recovery period. "You usually don't hear that in a lot of ailments," he noted, feeling a surge of encouragement. After spending several days in the hospital and undergoing weeks of cardiac rehabilitation, he met with a cardiologist for annual follow-up appointments to monitor his heart health. Osho mentioned that while pericardiac cysts rarely recur, regular scans are advisable for ongoing health assurance.
Now, approximately three months post-surgery, Donaldson has embraced a healthier lifestyle. He purchased a bicycle—something he hadn't considered in years due to his previous symptoms—and has been walking between two to five miles daily. He is also eager to resume non-competitive basketball drills and is optimistic about rejoining his basketball team this summer.
Donaldson expressed gratitude for the public service announcement from Abdul-Jabbar, stating, "If even just one person like Warren learns from my experience and takes their symptoms seriously ... it makes sharing my story worthwhile," Abdul-Jabbar told CBS News. Reflecting on his own journey, Donaldson acknowledged that without the encouragement to seek medical attention, he might still be grappling with his symptoms. "I thought, 'OK, once I confront it, hopefully I will have the same results.' Which I did," he concluded, now feeling revitalized and healthy.
