Aidan’s Story:
A road traffic accident in 2022 left 50-year-old Aidan with serious injuries, but it was when his heart suddenly started to fail that his life was in real danger.
“In July of 2022, I was involved in a serious single vehicle road traffic accident. I suffered a collapsed lung and multiple injuries to my ribs, arm, elbow, wrist and hip, which required surgery. Following the accident, I was initially taken to James Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown. Despite the efforts of the team there, my health started to deteriorate rapidly. An ambulance was organised to transfer me to the Mater Hospital… I was in heart failure.
Aidan in recovery following his heart surgery.
“The next thing I remember was waking up in the Mater’s Coronary Care Unit (CCU), I was attached to numerous machines… and that was the start of my ‘heart journey’. I needed an Echocardiogram every day for a month to try identify what was happening to me. The swelling from my broken ribs prevented a clear picture of my heart for weeks.
“Eventually it was discovered that I had a damaged heart valve and a hole in my heart. I was diagnosed with a rare congenital heart anomaly called Gerbode Defect – which can lead to the abnormal shunting of blood between the left ventricle and the right atrium.
“The team at the Mater swung into action. I needed to undergo three Catheterisation surgeries just weeks apart. I was being regularly being moved between the Coronary Care Unit and Intensive Care (ICU) and back again … all the time being expertly cared for by an amazing team of nurses and doctors. They literally fought to keep me alive.
“Finally, I had what I call, open heart surgery, where the doctor repaired my leaky heart valve and successfully closed the hole in my heart. From there it was back to Intensive Care (ICU), then on to the High Dependency Unit (HDU) and finally to the Cardiothoracic Ward to recover. Following all treatment, I was eventually able to head home in December 2022, just in time for Christmas.
“I ended up retiring from my job due to the complexity of my many surgeries and restrictions on my mobility, but have continued to make slow and steady progress. I still attend the Mater as an outpatient to ensure everything is on track.
“I owe my life to Mr. Nolke and Professor Casserly and the many doctors and nurses who treated and cared for me in all those wards. And, I would have been lost without the hospital’s wonderful catering staff – there was one lady in particular who went above and beyond bringing me all kinds of food to try and get me eating again. Everybody in the Mater came together to give me back my life.”
Aidan Sherry, Dublin
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