Patient Stories
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Jacqueline Lewis’ Heart Valve Disease Story
In 2022, retired healthcare professional Jacqueline Lewis began to feel breathless and pain in her chest. After having her symptoms dismissed as mental health issues, Jacquline was eventually diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis and needed urgent treatment. This is her valve disease story: “I think I first started to notice something was up when my mum was in hospital around Christmas 2022. I remember getting out of breath when walking up and down the hospital corridors, and I just felt a bit different. I thought it was the stress of everything that was going on. I’ve always been asthmatic, and [...]
Morgan’s Aortic Stenosis Story
In January this year, while at an appointment with her GP, 63-year-old Morgan, mentioned she had started becoming breathless and had a sharp pain in her chest while walking up an incline. Recognising these were symptoms of a potential heart condition, her GP listened to her heart and heard a murmur. Just weeks later, Morgan was diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis, requiring an urgent, lifesaving intervention. This is her heart valve disease story: “My story started in January this year when I went to the GP for an unrelated health issue. At the end of the appointment, she asked if [...]
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 awareness of the disease. This is his story: "My story began in early 2018 when I found that if I walked any distance I was experiencing shortness of breath. In truth, I never really took much notice as when I [...]
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 story: “My story starts six years ago when I suffered a heart attack. I was a taxi driver, and one day my arms started to feel really heavy. I went to the chemist that evening to get some aspirin, and [...]
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 incredible teams in Chorley, Preston and Blackpool, Dave is now back home and relishing the new lease of life he has be afforded. This is his story: "I was first taken in in March 2018. I was having a cup [...]
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 2019, and I think at the time I put it down to the stress of Christmas and work - and having bitten off a bit more than I could chew. I went to the doctor, who heard a murmur 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 the health service, Maisie received her life-saving treatment. This is her story: "My story started in February of last year when my entire family were really unwell. I had this constant, dry cough after, and it never really went away. [...]
Angie Martin: my second open-heart surgery story
Angie's valve disease story started when she was a small girl after she was born with a hole in her heart. Fast forward 40 years and Angie's leaky valve began to deteriorate. After being told she needed an operation, a pandemic stopped the world in its tracks. However, despite the pressures on the health service, thanks to the brilliant work of the team at Harefield, Angie was able to receive her life-saving treatment. This is her story: “My valve disease story started when I was a child, as I actually found out it was leaking when I had open-heart surgery [...]
Gary Russel: My preparation for Open-Heart surgery
Gary Russel is a 52-year-old Civil Servant from London. After being diagnosed with heart valve disease in his twenties at a medical to join the Police Force, his valve disease story went on for two decades before he was treated in 2013. Here is his story: "My story started in 1994 when I was at an assessment centre to join the police force. I'd passed everything, and then at the end, there was a medical. The force doctor gave me a check-over and said I had an irregular heartbeat. He thought maybe it was tension on the day, but referred [...]
Elizabeth Slough: My tissue valve replacement story
Elizabeth Slough is a retired member of Brighton's Alzheimer's Society, where she worked in the Carer's Support Department. Liz is an outgoing personality, a dedicated volunteer and a brilliant advert for the power of positive ageing. She has two married stepdaughters and a sister, who shared her heart valve disease story with her. Here is Liz's story. "I am, by nature, outgoing. I enjoy gardening, crafts, cinema, and theatre - I love to be entertained!! I love my allotment and go there as much as I can, you have to wrestle me away from it - especially when it's sunny. [...]
