For the first time, I felt heard: Holly’s journey to answers and hope at Piedmont Heart Institute Blairsville

Blairsville, Ga. (April 17, 2026) — For years, Holly searched for answers. Once active and engaged in daily life, Holly began experiencing crippling symptoms that would occur without warning. She was passing out—sometimes 20 to 30 times a day. The episodes were frightening, unpredictable and life-altering. Despite seeing multiple providers over time, she was repeatedly told her condition was narcolepsy or left without clear direction. Each appointment ended the same way: more questions, no answers, and the growing sense that her concerns weren’t fully understood.

“I felt dismissed,” Holly recalls. “I knew something wasn’t right, but I couldn’t get anyone to really listen.”

That all changed when she walked into Piedmont Heart Institute’s Blairsville office and met Steven Sigman, M.D.

A Different Kind of First Visit

From the very first appointment, Holly sensed something was different. Dr. Sigman didn’t rush. He listened carefully, observed closely, and asked questions no one else had asked before.

“Dr. Sigman took the time to truly understand my symptoms—how they felt, how often they happened, and how they affected my life,” Holly says. “For the first time, I felt seen and heard.”

Based on his evaluation, Dr. Sigman quickly recognized that Holly’s symptoms were consistent with autonomic dysfunction, including Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). But he didn’t stop there. Subtle neurological signs prompted him to look deeper, leading him to investigate a potential underlying mitochondrial condition—a critical possibility that had never previously been explored.

This thorough, whole-person approach reflects a core Piedmont value: putting the patient first—not just treating symptoms, but understanding the full story behind them.

Care That Goes Beyond the Exam Room

What stood out most to Holly wasn’t just Dr. Sigman’s clinical expertise—it was his unwavering commitment to her care.

He personally contacted Holly’s prior providers to gather a comprehensive medical history. He developed clear, collaborative care plans and continued working on her case even outside scheduled visits.

When Holly experienced complications related to a medication adjustment, Dr. Sigman didn’t delegate the response.

“He personally called me,” she says. “He changed my treatment plan and had me come back into the office the very next day to make sure I was safe.”

This level of responsiveness and accountability underscores Piedmont’s commitment to excellence, compassion, and teamwork—ensuring patients never feel alone in their care journey.

From Daily Fear to Renewed Hope

Because of Dr. Sigman’s careful attention and proactive management, Holly’s condition began to improve. Where she once passed out dozens of times each day, she now experienced significant symptom reduction—and something she hadn’t felt in years: hope.

“I finally had confidence that someone was fighting for me,” Holly says. “That changed everything.”

Her progress didn’t end there.

Recognizing the complexity of her condition, Dr. Sigman personally connected with a national expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, helping facilitate a specialized referral. For Holly, this was a pivotal moment.

“Something that used to take months or never happened at all, suddenly moved forward quickly,” she explains. “That was huge progress.”

To her, that referral represented more than another appointment. It was validation. It was momentum. And it was proof that her care team at Piedmont was fully invested in her long-term health.

A Defining Patient Experience

Throughout multiple follow-up conversations, Holly shared the same sentiment again and again: For the first time in her medical journey, she felt truly heard, validated, and cared for.

“It wasn’t just about getting answers,” she says. “It was about feeling like I mattered.”

Stories like Holly’s capture what the Piedmont Heart Institute strives to deliver every day—clinical excellence paired with genuine human connection.