Cy Taylor’s life is a story of dedication and excellence.
As a former Marine sergeant and retired Cracker Barrel executive, Taylor has spent much of his life focused on discipline, holding high standards and taking care of what matters most. At 72, he remains active on his farm, enjoys time with his family and keeps up with a 13-week-old puppy who is always ready for his attention.
Taylor also considered himself healthy. But one morning in March, something felt different.
“I feel a little funny. Like my heart is beating too fast,” he recalled telling the care team when he walked into the Parkridge Soddy-Daisy Emergency Room.
Within two minutes, he was undergoing evaluation.
Taylor was quickly diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm that can become serious without timely care. That diagnosis set a clinical process in motion that would carry Taylor from the Parkridge Soddy-Daisy ER to Parkridge Medical Center, where cardiology, hospital medicine and nursing teams converged around a single goal: stabilize the rhythm, assess underlying risk and determine the right level of intervention.
What stood out to Taylor wasn’t just the speed, but the precision.
“They told me it was atrial fibrillation and I know that can be serious,” he said.
At Parkridge Medical Center, Taylor’s care continued under cardiologist Dr. Christian Allen. His experience reflected the strength of Parkridge Medical Center’s cardiovascular program, which was named one of Modern Healthcare's Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospitals, a national recognition for excellence in heart and vascular care.
Taylor’s heart converted back to a normal rhythm on its own, and while he didn’t require further intervention, his experience left an indelible mark through the expertise, compassion and communication he experienced throughout his stay.
For Taylor, communication mattered as much as the care itself. He said physicians and colleagues explained what was happening in a way that helped him feel informed and respected.
“They didn’t talk over my head and didn’t talk to me like I was a block,” he shared.
Hospitalist Dr. Bessie Ingram-Nunally reinforced that experience, bringing continuity and approachability to the inpatient setting, while nursing and support staff ensured that care was proactive rather than reactive.
“I never waited on anything,” he said.
For Taylor, the experience showed the power of connected care. Parkridge Soddy-Daisy ER gave him fast access to emergency care close to home, while Parkridge Medical Center provided the specialized cardiovascular care he needed next.
“The people know what they're doing, and they care about what's happening to you,” he said. “They understand there's a person who's experiencing these things.”
That connection is the heart of a strong system of care. Each team played an important role, from the first evaluation to stabilization, transfer, inpatient care and discharge. Together, they helped turn a frightening morning into an experience marked by compassion, confidence and trust.