Being in intensive care is not what you might call a fun experience. High emotion and worry oozes from the walls and you can see the stress on the face of every nurse, doctor and family member who walks through the heavy white doors.
Following previous procedures I had been quickly moved from the ICU, leaving me not much time to…
Author Archives: The HopScot
6: The Long and Winding Road
In the buildup to my 2011 surgery I hadn’t really noticed any problems with my health. It isn’t always so easy, particularly when the change is gradual.
However my parents had both noticed my decline and after a few visits to the hospital, the decision was made to insert a stent into an artery…
Ticking Along Nicely: British Heart Foundation Events for Young(er) People
Did you know that medical research isn’t the only service that the BHF provides to help people with heart conditions? They also organise, host and fund events that allow young people with our conditions to come together from all over the country. Offering the opportunity to…
5: Just a Wee Problem
Originally, my surgery was supposed to last a mere six hours but ended up stretching to almost twenty. Such a long time under the knife can have unpleasant effects, not just around the area that is being operated upon but over the whole body…
4: The Great Divide
Coming round from my second open heart surgery was rough.
After a while the breathing tube was removed and I was able to properly wake up.
One of the first things I noticed, aside from the aching, were the three pipes emerging gracefully from my…
The Tale of Argo
From the rescue to his final flight, here is the full story
of our little feathery friend…
3: When Might it be Appropriate to Start Calling Him Hoppy?
The first few days after waking up to find my leg had been amputated were surreal. I wasn’t really getting my head around it properly and only ever acknowledged what had happened to make a few jokes.
Eventually though, the time came to lift the sheets…
2: The Heart of the Matter
Raging rapids, heart tugging revelations, hollow legs and cross species karaoke.
It was when I was fifteen that I finally realised my condition wasn’t going to be just a minor annoyance in the background of my life.
My health had gradually been declining and after a visit to the hospital they realised…
What’s Happening With The Old Ticker?
I have talked in my first post about losing my leg during open heart surgery, and also mentioned my condition on the page where I talk about who I am.
However, I haven’t really done much to explain about it other than…
1: Gotta Start Somewhere
Lost limbs, broken hearts, a daring rescue and the resurrection of an old friend. When I was trying to think of what to call the first post on this blog (which has taken far longer than I hope writing the rest of it will), I kept flicking through titles in my head like it was…
