“We lived every day fearing our next heartbeat could be our last. It was devastating knowing my son's life and my own could end suddenly. The Baird Institute didn't just save our hearts - they saved our family.”
Imagine living every day of your life with a silent ticking time bomb inside you, one you cannot see or feel, yet it could explode without warning. It could happen to anyone: yourself, a loved one, or a friend.
And each year, for the nearly 17,000 Australians who lose their life to heart disease, it does.
Meet Paul Colenso and his son Brayden, who were unknowingly living with dangerously enlarged aortas. This condition could have ended their lives at any moment. Paul shares candidly,
“We knew the risks – we lost my father to this condition when he was just 44.”
Paul and Brayden are like many families you may know personally. They are hardworking, loving people who never expected to find themselves in such a terrifying situation. Thankfully, their journey led them to The Baird Institute, Australia’s leading centre for research and clinical excellence in cardiothoracic surgery and heart disease.
In February 2024, Paul underwent critical surgery performed by Professor Paul Bannon to remove and replace his severely enlarged aorta. Paul recalls vividly,
“Thanks to Professor Bannon and the team at The Baird Institute, my surgery was successful, and I kept my own heart valve.”
But just months later, Paul’s relief turned to heartbreak.
His son Brayden required the same urgent, life-saving operation. At just 23, Brayden’s condition had become critical. Imagine Paul and his wife Katherine’s desperation, knowing their son’s life hung by a thread.
Brayden’s surgery and recovery were more challenging, but thankfully, due to the exceptional care provided by Professor Bannon and the dedicated team at the Baird Institute, Brayden also made a full recovery. Today, both father and son live free from the threat they carried silently for so long. For Paul and Brayden, life has taken on an entirely new meaning. Brayden added:
“I was only 23 when I had my surgery, just six months after my dad’s procedure. Though my recovery took a bit longer than his, we’re both now back to 100% – working full-time in construction again.”
Paul summed it up best when he shared with us recently:
“Supporting their research is crucial because their work doesn’t just develop new treatments, it helps identify life-threatening conditions that might otherwise go undetected until it’s too late.”
2025 Mid-Year Appeal
We need your help to reach our goal of $195,000 by June 30
Your immediate support today could mean the difference between life and death for someone like Paul, Brayden, or perhaps even yourself or a loved one. Only you can help save yet another family like Paul and Brayden’s.
Your gift will fund revolutionary research into our self-regenerating artificial blood vessels, giving families more precious moments together. Every heartbeat matters. Will you help?
