Gerry Hopkins had his first heart attack when he was in his 30s, and a second less than two years later. After surgery and subsequent medication, he believed he would be able to carry on with his life, providing he didn’t overdo things.
But after suffering another heart attack more than 20 years later, it was decided that the only way he would survive long term would be to have a heart transplant. This Organ Donor Awareness Week, he recalls how a donor heart saved his life.
“When I was 39, I was walking off a football pitch after a game when I felt a tightness in my chest,” recalls 63-year-old Hopkins. “This was my first heart attack and while it wasn’t really severe, it was bad enough to need treatment. Then, 18 months later, I had been playing golf when I had another massive attack and was rushed to hospital.
“I had an angioplasty, because I had a 99 per cent blockage in one of my arteries, and the doctors told me that a lot of damage had been done to my heart.
“I was working as a sales consultant at the time but had to take disability in 2002 as only 30 per cent of my heart was functioning properly. I was told to take things easy and keep energetic movements to around five minutes of stretches.
“I did exactly what I was told, so I thought that if I took things easy and didn’t indulge in anything too strenuous, I would be fine.”
Second attack
Unfortunately, his health deteriorated and he had another attack. “In May 2013, I had another big heart attack and luckily I was in the house with [my wife] Margaret; she rang emergency services and an ambulance arrived quickly and dealt with me on the floor before taking me to hospital,” he recalls.
“It was discovered that I had another blockage in my heart and at this point it was functioning at between 7 per cent and 10 per cent. I had to be attached to lots of pumps and tubes and doctors told me that I would have to have a heart transplant as soon as a donor became available.
“This was a very tense time as I had to do everything very slowly and carefully. I had a special diet and really couldn’t exert myself in any way.”
The father of three was called up for surgery five times, but after preparing himself mentally and being prepared physically for the operation, it turned out that several donor hearts weren’t a good match. But finally last year, he had another phone call telling him to prepare for surgery and this time it all went ahead successfully.
“I was so delighted to finally be going ahead with the operation that I had no fear or apprehension beforehand,” says Hopkins. “The surgery took eight hours and waking up with a new heart was a totally unbelievable feeling. I didn’t have any pain afterwards and although doctors thought I would be in for at least a month, I was home within 17 days, as I recovered really well.”
Short walk
“On my first day home in Cavan after discharge, I went for a short walk in the nearby woods and that felt amazing. Nowadays I’m able to walk for three miles without stopping and I never believed this would be possible, because just over a year ago I had to stop every few minutes.
“I have been given a totally new lease of life and I would advise anyone who is waiting for a transplant never to give up hope: being positive makes all the difference. If it wasn’t for my donor and their family, I wouldn’t be here today. I would encourage everyone to fill out a donor card. It takes only a few minutes and could save several people’s lives.”
Organ Donor Awareness Week takes place from March 28th to April 4th. See ika.ie
