No time to waste!

Story by Henry

November 6, 2019, was the day that changed my life for ever.

I had recently turned 60 and I had spent most of my working life of 37 years traveling the world whilst working in executive level, high pressure roles. I had always been a fanatic about keeping fit during those years, waking each morning 6 days a week at 5.30am to train, either a run, a cycle class or a weight routine. I had lost my dad at an early age; he had suffered a massive stroke at the age of 42 and one of his brothers also died at 39 from sudden heart failure. I was determined to beat the genes I had been given and keep myself fit.

I had recently stopped fulltime work to commence a Board Directors career which freed me up for other interests and more training! It was a normal Monday morning routine, weight workout followed by a cycle class. Who knew that major upheaval was about to happen, on my last bench press I felt something pull deeply in my whole torso leading up to my neck. I stood up, abandoned the thought of the cycle class and went home to the surprise of my partner, he immediately asked why so early? I explained to him what happened, and he became more alarmed than me.

A couple of visits to the GP and I was told “all is ok”. A couple of days passed, and I was still not feeling quite well, and thought that perhaps I had gall stones. After much insistence from my partner, I agreed to go to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPA). I walked in with my runners and shorts and a t-shirt, thinking they can do an ultrasound and confirm my gall stones, and I would go home! Whilst my partner went to park the car and come back, my world changed. The emergency nurse said my heart rate was 160 and called the resuscitation team. From there the most amazing ER doctors were relentless in tests etc to discover I had suffered a Type A dissection of the AORTA, and I was told I must have immediate surgery to save my life. This also meant I had to say goodbye to my partner and siblings and Mum, as I was given just a 50 % chance of surviving the surgery.

I underwent eight hours of surgery, and I thank God for the medical team who saved my life that night – Dr Davies ER for her relentless testing, and Cardiothoracic surgeon Professor Tristan Yan and his team for operating on me with the best expertise in the world. I spent 7 days in ICU with heaven sent nursing staff, then three days in the ward. Rehab was amazing at RPA with a great counselling service included. It is six years on, and life is certainly different, no more intense training, only our daily walks in the local area. Being able to travel and have time with family and friends, I wake up each morning and give thanks I am alive and live near one of the best hospitals in the world whose Medical Staff, are filled with expertise and research knowledge that saves lives.