DAVENPORT, Fla. (Thursday, June 19, 2025) — Alice Saunders said if not for the team members at AdventHealth Heart of Florida Sports Medicine Rehab, she might not be here today.
“They saved my life,” she said.
Saunders said she had been referred to AdventHealth Heart of Florida Sports Medicine Rehab for occupational, speech and physical therapy due to her Myasthenia Gravis, a rare neuromuscular, autoimmune disorder that causes extreme fatigue and can cause certain muscles to be weak.
According to the Myasthenia Gravis foundation, impulses from the brain travel down nerves but are blocked by antibodies before impulses reach muscle. The body is essentially attacking itself and stopping muscle function. The muscles that are most often affected control facial expressions, eye movements, talking, swallowing and chewing, breathing and arm and leg movements.
In January 2025, Saunders said she went to the facility for her regularly scheduled therapy when she and staff members noticed something was wrong. She said it turned out she was having a Myasthenia Gravis attack.
“When I sat down with the speech therapist, she said ‘Ms. Saunders, you don’t look too good.’ I told her ‘I don’t feel too good.’ Then my speech started slurring,” Saunders said. “My temperature was 102 degrees, and they called the ambulance.”
Saunders was rushed to AdventHealth Heart of Florida and spent several days in the ICU.
“I was put on a massive amount of antibiotics. Praise God, I thank him for this day. If it wasn’t for the people at sports medicine recognizing that I wasn’t doing well, I would have died,” Saunders said.
June is Myasthenia Gravis Awareness month, which is meant to bring the rare illness into the spotlight and educate more people about it.
More than 70,000 people are diagnosed with the disorder in the United States, according to the Myasthenia Gravis foundation. The foundation says the illness can impact anyone, but it is more common in adults than children with women under 40 and men over 60 more likely to be diagnosed with it. It currently has no cure, but there are treatments to manage symptoms which are often effective. Symptoms can include drooping eyelids, double vision, trouble smiling, trouble breathing or swallowing, extremely weak arms, hands or legs, profound tiredness and impeded mobility and movement.
“Myasthenia gravis is a complex and often debilitating disorder that can drastically alter a patient’s quality of life,” Kepler Francois, the clinical operations manager at AdventHealth Heart of Florida Sports Medicine and Rehab, said. “Our team has seen the toll it takes physically, emotionally and mentally. I am thankful that our team was able to recognize that Ms. Saunders was in distress and quickly get her the help she needed.”
Following the attack in January, Saunders said she ended up back in the ICU at AdventHealth Heart of Florida for several more days in February because of another Myasthenia Gravis attack and a fall. During that stay, she was grateful to have a visit from one of her occupational therapists.
“My occupational therapist, Gina, I looked up and here she was in my hospital room. This is an example of the compassion and how you all care for your patients. She didn’t have to come see me, but I was thankful,” Saunders said.
Saunders said she’s still working to go to all her appointments at AdventHealth Heart of Florida Sports Medicine and Rehab and she tries her best to stay as active as her body allows. She’s looking forward to spending time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and other family members at a family reunion this summer.
“We’re very glad that Ms. Saunders is doing better, and our team members are always thrilled to see her,” Francois said. “Seeing someone regain their strength, confidence and hope is a powerful reminder of the impact our work can have. Moments like this fuel our commitment to advancing care and supporting every step of the patient’s journey.”
Visit AdventHealthHeartofFlorida.com to learn more about the hospital and ahsportsmedcentralfl.com to find out more about sports medicine and rehab care.
Provided by AdventHealth