"Heart failure"

Sometimes you're sure your leg is being pulled. And sometimes it is.

That's how I felt at my friendly GPs office, when he told me to lie there while he called an ambulance.

"What!?" I said. "I only came in to see if I had emphysema from smoking!"

Doctor

Ambulance staff

But thankfully, I didn't have emphysema, 'cos there's not much to be done. Instead, I had an irregular heart beat, and my GP deemed it serious.

So began a journey through Box Hill Hospital and the amazing Prof Jaya , then the wonderful Austin Hospital and the lovely Mr Nick. Major repair of prolapsed mitral valve leaflet, with a dramatic scar to prove it. I saw so many brilliant nursing staff, such loving care in every interaction.

Followed by several months of rehab, all courtesy of Eastern Health. Follow-up visits from the lovely Edel, phone consultations with Box Hill and the Austin Cardiology experts, and a once-a-week session at Wantirna Health with physiotherapists and other helpers.

When I started at Wantirna, I struggled to walk 395 metres in six minutes with much distress. After the five week course, I strode 512 metres without puffing or panting. And I've got the certificate to prove it. Thank you Viv and the team, you rock!

Team work

I'm not quite as recovered as I want to be, so there's still work to be done. But I have such admiration and affection for all the exceptional people whom I met and was cared for by. Thank you all for playing your part in diagnosing, repairing and rehabilitating my heart.

You will occupy a place in it for all the extra years I'm still around to be the dad and grandad I need to be.