"I would not have gotten through this without them"

2 years ago I was suffering from what I thought was a chest infection. After several weeks of antibiotics a different GP then diagnosed the first Stroke.

I was admitted to hospital and treated and after ten days was allowed home. 2 days later I had another stroke and found myself on the living room floor. An ambulance as called and they arrived within 25 minutes and took me back to Dr Grays. During this ten day visit to hospital they then discovered I had heart failure as well as the strokes. I was admitted to the stroke ward and also under cardiac care.

During this period I felt a little confused as to what the future might hold for me. I wondered if I would recover from the strokes and had no idea at this point how serious my heart condition was. I was not down beat and remained positive on how I would recover from this. Throughout this period I regained my mobility and speech and finally was allowed to drive again and live at home. It was long period of relying on others to help and assist me to appointments and day to day shopping.

Once my Heart issues were identified I had appointments with Cardio in Aberdeen but the best element was the heart recovery assistance at Dr Grays in Elgin. The regular appointments and checks were the big factor in keeping focussed on my recovery and the future.

Without being able to access the team in Elgin locally I don’t think I would have had the same outlook on my recovery as Aberdeen was very remote and I had little contact. Being able to pick up the phone and speak directly to the cardiac outpatients nurse in Elgin was my link to recovery. The nurse kept my expectations under check and at the same time kept my mental and physical health in a positive place. Without her guidance I might have lost my positive drive to what is a very long road to recovery.

I have had good and bad days through the last 2 years but its the Cardiac nurse that has kept me going and pushing forward to positive recovery and further treatment. She has guided me through the road towards a heart transplant. She explained that it is a massive procedure but that the end result of this will allow me to live a proper life again post transplant.

I can’t find enough positive words for the cardiac treatment and care I have had from Dr Grays but I am absolutely sure I would not have gotten through this ordeal without them. Physically and mentally I would have struggled without their input in my journey up until this point.

I am in a happy place with my journey to the future and it is very much to the care and input from the Cardiac team at Dr Grays.