- Aortic Dissection
- Interviews
How did all start?
Woke up the morning with extreme back pain in the abdomen
Do you already have a diagnosis? How long did it take you to get it?
No.
For what medical specialties have you been treated? What has been the most useful specialty for your?
Cardiology.
What has been the most useful thing for you so far?
That I survived the 638 minutes of surgery. I had my ascending aorta repaired and my aortic valve replaced with a mechanical one.
What have been your biggest difficulties?
The mental health, having difficulty dealing with my experience.
How has your social and family environment reacted? Have your social or family relationships changed?
Immediate family (Sisters) have been great. Two of my nephews without whom I would not make it through the day.
What things have you stopped doing?
Stopped socializing.
What do you think about the future?
Have no idea of the future living day to day.
So far, which years have been the best years in your life? What have you done during them?
It is 11 months since my op. There are good and bad days. The good days I try and ride my bike.
What would you like to do if you didn’t have your condition?
Travel, I was planning on riding my bike in as many countries as possible.
If you had to describe your life in a sentence, what would it be?
My life has been wonderful always doing what I wanted to do, now I have to refocus with the new challenges I am experiencing.
Finally, what advice would you give to a person in a similar situation?
Clear your head and move on nothing you can do about it just continue living the best way you can with the second chance you have been given.
