Thankful to be still be alive & on 'The Map'

Sept 2015. No previous symptoms, though have been on meds for high BP over several years. After 2 days P/time work, returned home, had supper. Checking my emails on PC, when felt sharp pain to neck, like a karate chop. Thought maybe a heart attack?? asked my wife to call ambulance. Paramedics arrived very quickly, taken to local A&E, by this time unconscious, don't remember anything. After a while, a CT scan ordered as other tests inconclusive. Diagnosed Aortic Dissection type A, rushed to Cardiac Unit @ Brighton Hospital, several hours surgery. In medical induced sedated/coma. Several weeks in CICU/HDU before moved to cardiac ward, and eventually discharged. Have residual heart failure, but I am alive. 4 months at home feeling like had been run over by a truck, slow improvement. Now 2 years on, I am as good as I am likely to get, but oh so grateful to the Cardio Thoracic surgical team @ Brighton. Today is a good day, make the most of it.