My life changed forever with a heart problem.
By Amelia Forrest
I lived a normal life in Scarborough with mum and brother up until the age of 14 when my brother died suddenly from Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (Hereditary Heart Disease). Within two weeks I was diagnosed with a different strain of Cardiomyopathy. I was put on medication to control the rhythm of my heart. A few months later I was told my heart was getting worse and without a transplant I would not live.
As much as possible I tried to carry on with life as normal, but struggled with any physical activities. I was put on the waiting list in June 2002 and got the call in August 2002. Unfortunately, things didn’t go to plan and once the heart was in me it didn’t beat. I was put on the ECMO machine which did the job of my heart in hope that it would start beating again of its own accord. This didn’t happen and I was put on the emergency list and was lucky enough to get a heart within four days. I was in hospital for three months to recover and even when I was home the road to recovery was long. I wasn’t well enough to return to school so had a home tutor and took three GCSEs. The following year I felt it was time to get my life back on track and went to catering college as I wanted to be a chocolatier. I was later lucky enough to become an apprentice at a Chocolate Factory where I stayed for a few years before wanting to progress further.
Unfortunately, my next career move didn’t work out and I ended up suffering with depression but in hindsight I realise that this is when I grieved for the loss of my brother as I had not taken the time to do this when he had died due to my own health suffering. I got a job at M&S where I remained for several years. While I was working there, I threw my energy into my volunteering with Guides which is the largest female organisation in the country. Throughout my life Guiding has been the place I could go and switch off from all my problems to just enjoy myself. It has given me skills and confidence to do all the things I have done in my life. It has also given me opportunities that I wouldn’t have otherwise had to travel the world from Switzerland to Costa Rica.
I became a keen fundraiser and managed to raise over £15,000 in just one year for Live Life Give Life (a charity that promotes awareness of organ donation) and the British Heart Foundation to celebrate 10 years of extra life. While doing this I decided it was time to set up my own business.
I had eight amazing years running my business and falling in love with my husband before deciding to expand but unfortunately things didn’t work out the way I had planned, so I had no choice but to shut the business down. Having to do this absolutely broke me and I felt very much like my life was over and didn’t have a clue what to do next. I suffered with depression. Covid struck at a time when I needed the break from day to day grind and it allowed me to find myself again, find the things that I had lost the love for as I had ploughed all my energies into running the business and forgotten about me as a person. I have taken up cycling and found my love for baking, along with several other new hobbies. I am now ready for my next challenge in life and am looking forward to where life takes me.
I would really appreciate it if you would have a conversation with your family about organ donation tonight and tell them what your decision is as currently 43% of families say ‘No’ even though it is their decision to donate. Organ donation gave me a chance at life that my brother didn’t get.