For Marvin Hudson, a dedicated Miami-Dade police officer, retirement in 2018 marked the end of a distinguished career and the beginning of a new chapter with his children and grandchildren. Mr. Hudson wasn’t the type to slow down. He was a lifelong fitness enthusiast, a regular at the gym, and a man who took pride in his physical resilience.
But shortly after hanging up his uniform, Mr. Hudson, now 72, faced an opponent he couldn't arrest or outrun. He was diagnosed with a condition that often hides in plain sight, masking itself behind symptoms that mimic common aging or general heart fatigue. His eventual diagnosis was cardiac amyloidosis, specifically a genetic version known as transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR).
His story of persistence highlights a critical gap in cardiac care: the difficulty of diagnosing a condition that mimics heart failure and atrial fibrillation (AFib), yet requires a completely different treatment approach.
Today, thanks to advanced care at Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, led by Sandra Chaparro, M.D., cardiologist and director of the Institute’s Advanced Heart Failure Program, Mr. Hudson is back to enjoying his busy retirement, proving that a complex diagnosis doesn’t have to mean the end of an active life.
Sandra Viviana Chaparro, MD
“Every time I would see a cardiologist, everything would be fine, and the reason was I had AFib,” Mr. Hudson recalls. “So, if I wasn't in AFib, then I'd get a heart check and everything was fine. I was finally diagnosed with AFib — actually by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue — and that's how the journey began.”
The Fitness Fanatic and the Hidden Symptoms
For most of his life, Mr. Hudson was the picture of health. His colleagues and friends often joked about his strict dietary habits and intense workout regimens. He did everything "right." Yet, he began experiencing heart rhythm issues that didn't align with his lifestyle.
The initial culprit seemed to be AFib, a common irregular heart rhythm. Like many patients who eventually discover they have amyloidosis, Mr. Hudson spent years treating the symptoms rather than the root cause.
This cycle of testing and temporary relief is frustratingly common for amyloidosis patients. Because the condition is a master of disguise, doctors often treat the visible issues—like the arrhythmia—while the underlying protein buildup in the heart muscle continues silently.
The ‘Red Flag’ That Changed Everything
The turning point in Mr. Hudson’s journey didn't happen on a treadmill or in an emergency room, but during a routine consultation. He had already undergone three ablation procedures to correct his AFib, yet his condition was progressing toward congestive heart failure. Something was missing from the puzzle.
It was a small, seemingly unrelated habit that helped crack the case.
“I just happened to be in the doctor's office and I guess I'm a fiddler — and I was fiddling with my hands,” Mr. Hudson says. “The doctor just happened to ask me, 'Do you have carpal tunnel?' And I said, 'Yes, I do.' And he said: I think I'm going to refer you to a specialist just to check to see if you might have this condition.”