You can overcome anything with determination!

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Hi,
My problem started on 2011 aged 48 when I felt a rip in my chest. Luckily I live 2 minutes from the hospital & the DR on call had just come back from AAA awareness course (lucky me).

Rushed to the Brompton hospital for emergency surgery & 15 hrs later woke up in intensive care. It took me 12 months to recover to a near normal life.

In 2016 diagnosed with aortic arch failure & leaking aortic valve. Given less than 6 months if I did nothing with a 25% survival chance from surgery. Obviously I took the latter option. First opp aborted due to complications & second attempt went clockwork after pulling through another marathon opp, but another 12 months out of my life to recover.

In between, I lost my voice (now repaired) & suffer from permanent nerve damage in my shoulder after the opp (under pain control). My Valve is still leaking, but I manage my condition. I am now about 80% normal & live smarter, not harder.

Amazingly I never stopped work & am only recently contemplating retirement.

Good luck to anyone reading this with similar conditions. Dont ever give up & fight for the life you have