Patient Stories
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Joan Welsby’s Heart Valve Disease Story
In 2016, just months before her 60th birthday, Operating Department Practitioner at Wigan Infirmary, Joan, realised that her health was deteriorating, and she was unable to do the everyday activities that she had been. Realising something was up, she went to her GP, who heard a murmur. A subsequent echo revealed she had severe aortic stenosis, and required urgent intervention. [...]
Phillip Warlow’s Aortic Stenosis Story
After beginning to feel breathless in 2018, Phillip Warlow was diagnosed with aortic stenosis in April 2019. With his condition deteriorating, Phillip required early intervention and received a tissue valve at Morriston Hospital, Swansea. Since being treated, Phillip is back enjoying life with his grandson, welcomed a new granddaughter into the world and now supports Heart Valve Voice to raise [...]
Christian Nielsen’s Aortic Valve Story
In May 2021 Christian Nielsen's murmur was detected at a routine medical check up for a visa application. After just welcoming their second child into the world, Christian's life was turned on it's head, and after receiving further tests it was found that he required urgent surgical intervention. With the support of his family, his medical team, and Heart Valve [...]
Christopher Saul’s Aortic Stenosis Story
After suffering a cardiac arrest at his GP surgery three years ago, Christopher Saul was diagnosed with aortic stenosis, and given regular echos to monitor his condition. In February 2020 his aortic stenosis had deteriorated, and he required urgent intervention. After his treatment was delayed due to Covid, Christopher eventually received his new valve in October 2020. This is his [...]
Dave Swanton’s Mitral Valve Disease Story
Dave Swanton was first diagnosed with heart valve disease in 2018. Fast-forward to 2020, and Dave's condition had deteriorated. Due to the pressures of Covid, he was told he would need to wait for surgery, but was advised to seek medical help immediately if his symptoms change - which is exactly what he did. Thanks to the work by the [...]
Martyn O’Connors Covid-19 Valve Disease Story
Martyn O'Connor first had valve disease surgery to replace his aortic valve 11 years ago. After his valve began to deteriorate, urgent intervention was required, and thanks to the excellent team at Morriston Hospital, Swansea, he was able to receive his life-saving treatment, and was discharged in a matter of days. This is his valve disease story: "This part of [...]
Sandra McGonigle’s Aortic Stenosis Story
In April 2020, nurse Sandra McGonigle was diagnosed with aortic stenosis with a bicuspid valve. After her health deteriorated, she was rushed through for surgery in February 2021, where she had open-heart surgery to replace her valve. This is her valve disease story: "I found out I had heart valve disease last April. I had some chest pain in December [...]
Nigel Masterton’s Aortic Valve Replacement Story
73-year-old Nigel Masterton, from Edinburgh was diagnosed with a 'sticky valve' while on a trial assessing the impact of drugs on patients with aortic stenosis. After opting to have minimal invasive surgery, a complication during surgery left him in ITU. Despite this, and thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the ITU staff, Nigel was back home with his wife and [...]
Maisie Weir’s Heart Valve Disease Story
During the first national lockdown in 2020, Maisie Weir noticed herself getting breathless while walking in the Yorkshire hills with her friend. After being urged to see her doctor by her friend and her husband, Iain, Maisie was diagnosed with severe aortic valve stenosis and told she required urgent intervention. In January 2021, and despite the pressures COVID placed on [...]
Jonathan Toms: My COVID-19 Valve Disease Story
In 2020, during the first national lockdown, Jonathan Toms, 44, began to feel out of breath while out walking with his friend. Just a few months later, Jonathan was struggling to tie his shoe laces and, after a trip to A&E, was diagnosed with aortic stenosis. Thanks to the Mr Bahrami, the team at Royal Brompton and his wife, Julie, [...]
