This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3wedqexpyvo
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Anger, tears and joy after a heart attack at 22 | Anger, tears and joy after a heart attack at 22 |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Faith Harrison suffered a major heart attack in January 2024 when she was 22 | Faith Harrison suffered a major heart attack in January 2024 when she was 22 |
| On 6 January 2024, a then 22-year old Faith Harrison began to have a heart attack while driving home from a hockey match. | On 6 January 2024, a then 22-year old Faith Harrison began to have a heart attack while driving home from a hockey match. |
| It lasted for seven hours and resulted in emergency surgery and a diagnosis of heart failure. | It lasted for seven hours and resulted in emergency surgery and a diagnosis of heart failure. |
| Twelve months later, now aged 23, life has completely changed for the fitness coach from Shropshire. | |
| "Not just me, my doctors, would describe me as very healthy, very fit but also a bit of a surprise that I'm doing really, really well," she said. | "Not just me, my doctors, would describe me as very healthy, very fit but also a bit of a surprise that I'm doing really, really well," she said. |
| "Looking back, I was quite naïve about how sick I actually was." | "Looking back, I was quite naïve about how sick I actually was." |
| As well as drastically changing her lifestyle, Ms Harrison still deals with the trauma of her heart attack. | As well as drastically changing her lifestyle, Ms Harrison still deals with the trauma of her heart attack. |
| She described feeling grief for the life she used to live. | She described feeling grief for the life she used to live. |
| "Sometimes I'm so angry I want to shout at the world and say: 'Why me?' | "Sometimes I'm so angry I want to shout at the world and say: 'Why me?' |
| "Sometimes I'm extremely upset because I question what my life would look like if this didn't happen." | "Sometimes I'm extremely upset because I question what my life would look like if this didn't happen." |
| Ms Harrison is now an ambassador for the British Heart Foundation | Ms Harrison is now an ambassador for the British Heart Foundation |
| After the heart attack, Ms Harrison found out she had two underlying congenital conditions. | After the heart attack, Ms Harrison found out she had two underlying congenital conditions. |
| A patent foramen ovale - or PFO - which is a small hole between the top two chambers of the heart. | A patent foramen ovale - or PFO - which is a small hole between the top two chambers of the heart. |
| She also has May-Thurner Syndrome, a rarely diagnosed condition that tends to affect women more than men, in which an artery compresses a vein in the pelvis and this makes it harder for blood to flow back to the heart. | She also has May-Thurner Syndrome, a rarely diagnosed condition that tends to affect women more than men, in which an artery compresses a vein in the pelvis and this makes it harder for blood to flow back to the heart. |
| Following her diagnosis of heart failure, she was told the amount of blood leaving her heart every time it squeezes - its ejection fraction - was at about 27%, with anything over 50% considered normal. | Following her diagnosis of heart failure, she was told the amount of blood leaving her heart every time it squeezes - its ejection fraction - was at about 27%, with anything over 50% considered normal. |
| "Eight out of 17 segments of my heart don't function," added Ms Harrison. | "Eight out of 17 segments of my heart don't function," added Ms Harrison. |
| Today, her heart's ejection fraction is at 47%. | Today, her heart's ejection fraction is at 47%. |
| Reflecting on the last 12 months, she said: "I've done 10 times more than I could've ever imagined." | Reflecting on the last 12 months, she said: "I've done 10 times more than I could've ever imagined." |
| Instead of lifting weights, Ms Harrison now teaches Pilates | Instead of lifting weights, Ms Harrison now teaches Pilates |
| She is now an ambassador for the British Heart Foundation and has raised awareness of women suffering with heart issues. | She is now an ambassador for the British Heart Foundation and has raised awareness of women suffering with heart issues. |
| "I got engaged, qualified as a Pilates teacher, started teaching at a studio, started a podcast... I've got loads of things coming for 2025," she told the BBC. | "I got engaged, qualified as a Pilates teacher, started teaching at a studio, started a podcast... I've got loads of things coming for 2025," she told the BBC. |
| However, she added this had not come without sacrifice. | However, she added this had not come without sacrifice. |
| "I had to change my life completely… I went from weight training and playing hockey to mat Pilates and reformer Pilates, so it was lower impact." | "I had to change my life completely… I went from weight training and playing hockey to mat Pilates and reformer Pilates, so it was lower impact." |
| She also changed her diet and now takes dozens of medications every day including blood thinners. | She also changed her diet and now takes dozens of medications every day including blood thinners. |
| "I don't take anything, even the smallest little things, for granted," she said firmly. | "I don't take anything, even the smallest little things, for granted," she said firmly. |
| "Being able to walk up the stairs, being able to clean my house, being able to work out, personal train in a gym. | "Being able to walk up the stairs, being able to clean my house, being able to work out, personal train in a gym. |
| "For me, that's extraordinary because there's so many people out there that have what I have or have been through what I have been through, and they can't do those things." | "For me, that's extraordinary because there's so many people out there that have what I have or have been through what I have been through, and they can't do those things." |
| Ms Harrison and her partner Sam got engaged in September 2024 | Ms Harrison and her partner Sam got engaged in September 2024 |
| Ms Harrison said she suffers from flashbacks. | Ms Harrison said she suffers from flashbacks. |
| "I have days where I don't want to leave the house, and I have days where my quads tense up, my heart rate increases, I sweat, and I can just visualise that day all over again," she added. | "I have days where I don't want to leave the house, and I have days where my quads tense up, my heart rate increases, I sweat, and I can just visualise that day all over again," she added. |
| As the anniversary of her heart attack approaches, Ms Harrison is not shying away from the milestone. | As the anniversary of her heart attack approaches, Ms Harrison is not shying away from the milestone. |
| "I'm having a cake made," she said. | "I'm having a cake made," she said. |
| "A big heart cake, with lots of hearts on it. | "A big heart cake, with lots of hearts on it. |
| "I want to celebrate being given a second life, it's not a day I want to ignore." | "I want to celebrate being given a second life, it's not a day I want to ignore." |
| Get in touch | Get in touch |
| Tell us which stories we should cover in Shropshire | Tell us which stories we should cover in Shropshire |
| Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, external, X, external and Instagram, external. | Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, external, X, external and Instagram, external. |