11th September 2020… Over a year now since I was discharged from hospital after open heart surgery to repair a valve in my heart, and I have been told that if the valve had not been replaced I might not have been here today writing this post. I have recovered to a certain extent, my heart is allowing me to walk further that I ever could without the breathlessness and discomfort I experienced prior to the tests and admission to hospital in readiness for the visit to the theatre where the remedial surgery was performed.
I still suffer from some discomfort in the chest and right side area when bending, stretching and trying to get comfortable at night, I am assured that this will subside in time, but there is no definitive timescale. Given that I am 68 next birthday then I must decide if it is wise to return to the work I do, retire or try a new challenge. The journey so far has been fine, apart from the lockdown period since the end of March, sadly the CV19 restrictions have not ended and new restrictions are being put into place, there is no normality on the horizon and perhaps it will never arrive in 2020.
This coming week is Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week, trying to get people to check their symptoms…the more we listen the more lives we save…
Let the Journey begin... 