After suffering a significant heart attack in March 2016 my prognosis was not very good. I was diagnosed with Ischemic Cardiomyopathy (IC) It is a condition when your heart muscle is weakened as a result of a heart attack or coronary artery disease. I had limited mobility and showed signs of fatigue.

In October of 2016 I was assessed for heart transplantation, I was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension due to a dysfunctional left ventricle and told I was not a suitable transplant candidate. I was however offered a left ventricle assist device (LVAD) is a pump used for patients who have reached end-stage heart failure. The LVAD is a surgically implanted battery-operated, mechanical pump, which then helps the left ventricle (main pumping chamber of the heart) pump blood to the rest of the body.)

I declined this treatment.

You may ask why I turned the LVAD down.... there were many factors. The first was if I had it fitted there was never going to be hope.I always dreamed of getting back to work. It also carries some dangers (for example, risk of blood clots, high risk of stroke) which I fear. Being connected to batteries or the mains, no pulse, and 8 out of 10 patients are hospitalised in the first 18 months. For me it was called destination therapy as I was a B blood group, even though it would help my pulmonary condition, I would never be on the transplant list because of my blood type. I cannot imagine never showering properly or swimming in the ocean again.

During February 2017 I was reassessed for transplant. The prognosis made for grim reading. The cardiologist informed me I had a 6-week window for an LVAD implantation or there was a significant chance I would not be alive by Christmas of that year. Once again, I turned down the LVAD, I was referred back to my G.P and given advice to place a Do Not Resuscitate Order on my medical record and make arrangements for palliative care.

I was invited to my local hospice in April 2017 to meet the palliative care consultant and given information about end of life care.

I am not the type of person to take the first answer I get. I was determined there had to be another option, I did not want to give up and die, so I got in touch with another transplant hospital to see if there was an alternative. After some to-ing and fro-ing, I was admitted to a transplant hospital in Cambridge.

In July 2017 I was treated with Dopamine and Diuretics intravenously. This treatment had a high level of risk attached but this was explained, and I was fully aware of that. If the treatment was a success it should lower my pulmonary pressure so I could receive a transplanted heart. That did not happen, although it did do something after a period of time, I became more mobile and less fatigued despite the poor prognosis on discharge.

The early stages above did have a major effect on me. I constantly went to bed wondering if I would wake up. When I did something such as visit somewhere or see a friend, I would wonder if I will I ever see or hear them again.

A friend forwarded me article he had read in the Daily Mail about Stem Cell treatment for heart failure from Heart Cells Foundation. I was blown away by the story and how the patient made a remarkable recovery. I knew instantly I had to find out more and try and get this treatment if I was somehow suitable.

I cannot remember the exact date I contacted Heart Cells Foundation, but it must have been around August 2017.

October 2018 I was invited for a pre-trial assessment. One month later I was told I was a suitable candidate for the procedure and in February 2019 I was admitted to hospital and received treatment.

I cannot begin to tell you how I feel compared to the last 3 years. I also cannot believe my luck on being accepted and treated on this trial.

Now I feel compelled to do something that will firstly raise the profile of the foundation and make fellow suffers and the public aware of this ground breaking, life changing treatment, whilst trying to raise money to give others the chance to feel the way I do now. So this is my challenge to do that in aid of Heart Cells Foundation

I plan to ride around the UK on a motorcycle, to raise awareness for this wonderful charity who I literally owe my life to.

Not too bad for a guy who should be dead! #whatadifferenceadavemakes #rideforlife