"My experience after having two heart attacks"

I suffered my first heart attack at home on the early hours of the morning in October 2023. I was so fortunate to have an amazing Paramedic save my life and enable me to taken to the Jubilee hospital where I was worked on immediately resulting in a stent fitted. So many strangers to thank for saving my life. At 4.20am I was in bed drinking tea, just one hour later.

Forwarding to November 2024 I suffered a second less painful heart attack at home again. Although considerably less painful than the first it had the effect of totally destroying my belief that I was recovering well, in fact the opposite that played havoc with my mental health. It was not great before. I just really could not cope in hospital and although a second surgical procedure followed at the Jubilee where nothing was found I felt just in utter despair. I gained some relief by being allowed home that evening.

It’s not all bad news as the two Jennifer’s, from the Rehab Team, visited me on the Ward at the Royal and just seeing familiar faces gave me such a lift and shortly after the second visit I was taken to the Jubilee.

I have experienced two stints with the Rehab Team. The first one in late 2023 lasted 8 weeks and this one, discharged recently, lasted 4 weeks. But that does not even begin to tell the story, far from it. It is the reassurance they offer, the expertise and professionalism that you can speak to them one to one without restriction, ask as many or as few questions as you like, get honest and informative answers and I always recall on several occasions the would say we can help with that. And they do! It’s not something I ever thought would happen to me, probably like many others, but the support and its real care and support is just so amazing. I can say for me I would not be anywhere near or close to where I am now without them all. I include in that the young paramedic that early October morning who was just so brilliant, who even when I left in the ambulance stayed with my darling Wife explaining everything to her and reassuring her, the ambulance crew who took me to the Jubilee, who by coincidence where the same crew who transferred me from the Royal to the Jubilee the second time, the team in the surgical facility on both occasions, just superb and all the teams on the wards on both occasions and to anyone I have left out. Without anyone of you I know my

I’ve would not be so good.

Now, I feel great physically and making progress with my mental health. I feel so very well. I am determined to win over my mind and thoughts to a much better place, I am gradually winning that one too. I am 65 today and in the dark days and nights I never wanted to be here, didn’t ever think that far ahead and could barely get through the night let alone think ahead, hated myself and felt so desperately lonely and useless. Now I have hope, lots of hope, now I have my health and it’s up to me to keep improving my chances, I have a future, an opportunity many don’t have and I have, just a phone call away or a visit on a Wednesday or Friday to the Rehab Team if I have any questions, doubts… where else do you get that level of care, professionalism and dedication?

I will always be so thankful to so many strangers for saving my life and the Royal Rehab Team who have helped put me back together. Thank you.