"Aortic Valve Replacement - Open Heart Surgery"

I had an Aortic Valve replaced at Wythenshawe Hospital, South Manchester(Trafford) on September 28th 2006, l0 months ago. I was in the care of Mr. Paul Waterworth and his team and on Ward F6.

The staff treated me as a person not a number. I was greeted by a nurse, I think, called Julie Dean, who put my mind at rest and with the doctors my friend and I laughed and joked and it seemed more of a social occasion that the traumatic experience it could have been.

I had a few problems and every possible check was made to ensure my safety.

When I had the operation, I was given the greatest care imaginable and every question I asked was answered. I will never be nervous again because I knew nothing about that operation until I went back on the ward on the Monday from the previous Thursday morning. On the occasions I did become conscious, I can only remember kindness. I would definitely like to thank Mr. Waterworth and tell him he has given me my life back. I now go dancing and the most wonderful, I can now jive again. No bad for 74. The next plan is the Caribbean Cruise.

Whilst on the Waiting List, we had our own nurse to take our problems to and in this capacity Angela Redmond became a friend.

My daughter, my next of kin, was constantly and pleasantly kept informed of my progress by the staff on Intensive Care even ringing her at night when I had a problem to talk to her about it. She has nothing but praise for them nor have my friends when they visited and, in a quiet moment, they were given a drink and we had a laugh with the nurses. Super. One was Stephanie and I think the man was Jim.

They were all wonderful and I cannot thank them enough. Without the op, i was told, perhaps two years with no quality of life but now I'm up for 20years at least.