Kathryn's story

I have always led a very active life here on the Island. Whether it’s riding horses, cycling, walking the dogs or playing a competitive game of badminton, I’ve never been one to sit still. That’s why what happened in June 2025 came as such a complete shock.

I was at the NSC finishing a tough game of badminton when I suddenly felt overwhelmingly exhausted. As I walked to the car, I had to stop just to catch my breath. I felt sick and dizzy, but I assumed I had simply overdone it. On the drive home, I developed a sudden, sharp toothache on my left side. It felt very strange, but I never imagined it was my heart.

By the time I got into the house, I was feeling weak and wobbly. I had nausea and stomach pains that felt like period pains, which made no sense at my age. Thankfully, my husband took my blood pressure and noticed I looked grey and very lethargic. He called A&E, and I was taken in, where I was eventually told I had suffered a heart attack.

Because I also had COVID-19 at the same time, I spent a week in isolation at Noble’s before I was well enough to be flown to Liverpool. Once there, an angiogram revealed that two of my arteries were completely blocked, likely due to high cholesterol. I had assumed I would need a simple stent, but instead I was told I needed a double heart bypass.

The surgery was major, and the recovery was a slow and emotional journey. When I returned to the Island, I felt extremely weak and exhausted. However, I’ve always tried to stay positive. With the support of the cardiac rehabilitation team and my family, I began rebuilding my strength bit by bit.

Today, over six months later, I am back on my bike, back on my horse, and back on the badminton court. I want to share my story because, as women, we are often not told the symptoms to look out for. I didn’t have the ‘typical’ chest pain—I had a jaw ache and overwhelming exhaustion. We need to close that gap in awareness so other women on the Island know when to seek help.

I feel very lucky to have had what feels like a ‘quick fix’ and to be able to move forward with my life again.