We call the Valley of the Sun home, drawn to the year-round sunshine, diverse landscapes and urban cities. But, within our state’s vibrant scenery is a misunderstood illness called valley fever, a fungal infection that, without proper treatment, can develop into a serious disease for some. For Alex Soto, this reality hit at a young age, propelling her on a journey that eventually led her to Mayo Clinic, where hope and healing converge.
Arizona holds a special place in Alex’s heart; it’s home. But, while in high school, her active life took an unexpected turn. “I was just so sick and tired, like fatigue, aches all the time,” recalled Alex. Initially, she dismissed it as a cold, but when the symptoms persisted, she made an appointment with her doctor. Tests revealed that she had valley fever.
Valley fever is caused by coccidioides organisms, fungi that live in Arizona’s soil as well as part of Central California and Nevada. When the fungi’s spores become airborne from farming, construction or heavy winds like during a haboob, people can breathe them into their lungs. Most of us experience mild cases of valley fever that resolve on their own, but some, like Alex, require medical intervention. Her condition only worsened.
Not long after her diagnosis, the fatigue coupled with numerous fainting episodes, put Alex in the emergency room where doctors discovered a cavitary lesion or gas-filled mass on her right lung. While there was no immediate concern, Alex struggled through college. “The hard part with valley fever, especially for me, is that it ebbed and flowed,” said Alex. “There were times when I would feel good and times when I’d feel really terrible.”
Alex got married and moved to Las Vegas, where her visits to the emergency room became more frequent as her prolonged battle with valley fever continued. With no answers or clear path forward, Alex turned to Mayo Clinic in Arizona for help. Her first appointment was with Neil Ampel, M.D. in Infectious Disease who devised a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to combat the valley fever. As for the cavitary lesion on her lung, Dr. Ampel affirmed the possibility of surgery, but, due to her young age and the location of the cavity, he recommended they watch and wait. With a plan in place and a renewed sense of hope, Alex returned to Nevada.
Alex’s road was not easy, but it didn’t deter her from pursuing her dreams, which included starting a family. With her hometown doctor’s permission, Alex went off her medications. Eight months later, she was pregnant with her first child, giving birth to a healthy little girl in September 2021. However, a month later, Alex fell ill. She had fungal pneumonia and the cavitary lesion on her lung was growing.
Alex was quickly back on her medications. Two weeks later, her right lung collapsed. Her illness had taken a turn for the worse. Alex underwent three lung surgeries, but her lung kept leaking and the valley fever overtook her entire chest cavity. With her condition deteriorating, her doctors in Las Vegas were unable to offer further treatment. Alex again sought help from Dr. Ampel, who referred her to Staci Beamer, M.D., a specialist in Thoracic Surgery at Mayo Clinic. “Mayo Clinic has a multi-disciplinary team of valley fever experts who provide guidance and treatment for both Arizona residents and visitors to our state,” said Dr. Beamer. “We aim to help patients with complicated valley fever regain the quality of life they enjoyed before infection.” It was evident that Mayo Clinic was where Alex needed to be for her complex disease.
“When we got there, we were so encouraged by how welcoming everybody was. It just felt like, finally, everybody’s on the same page with what we’re going to do moving forward. It’s not like any other hospital,” said Alex. Mayo Clinic rallied around Alex, assembling a multidisciplinary team of physicians and surgeons to navigate the complexities of her case. The goal was to save her lung, but after another lung surgery, it became clear that the next step was to remove it completely.
Today, Alex’s resilience shines bright as she embraces life’s challenges with courage. Despite enduring setbacks, she recently conquered a half marathon alongside her husband and eagerly anticipates the arrival of her second child.
As Arizona prepares for another monsoon season, Alex’s story serves as a poignant reminder of valley fever’s profound impact and the critical importance of timely intervention. To address the increase in valley fever cases, Mayo Clinic has developed the Cocci Clinic, offering a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to treating this sometimes debilitating fungal infection.
“We started the Cocci Clinic in 2003, and have grown in the subsequent 20 years, now seeing more than 400 new valley fever patients per year and providing follow-up for thousands,” said Janis Blair, M.D. in Infectious Disease.
If you are experiencing serious outcomes from a valley fever infection, Mayo’s Cocci Clinic may be a place to begin for the answers you need. Visit our website for more information.
