Sharon2

14 years since diagnosis

Age at interview: 78

Sharon’s journey with heart failure began with episodes of light headedness, which she had reported to her family doctor. Living in California at the time, her family doctor dismissed it, attributing it to dehydration. Then one day in December of 2008, when out for a walk with her dog, Sharon passed out on the sidewalk. After waking up (with her dog sitting obediently waiting beside her), she went home and in the middle of calling her husband to tell him what had happened, she collapsed on the floor once more. Sharon was admitted to the hospital and put under observation for 3 days. It was there that the cardiologist told Sharon she had heart failure. At that time, between the cardiologist and a heart surgeon who inserted an ICD, very little information and explanation was provided about her diagnosis and treatment. Moreover, the communication styles of her cardiologists left her either in denial of her condition – “You’re doing fine”, or caused further confusion with the use of technical jargon. Sharon returned to Toronto in 2017 where she had to find a new family doctor and cardiologist. She began to learn about heart failure in earnest and was shocked to discover how much she didn’t know. Considering herself very lucky throughout her heart failure journey, Sharon speaks about the fear of living with this condition and having to face mortality. She has since been leading writing groups with heart patients in order to support and inspire others going through the same illness.

 

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