Hello lovely ones!
Some of you might know me already - posted a few times. This place and you guys have been an incredible place of support, thank you all so much!! I’m very proud now of being part of the zipper club! Warning long post below, but it’s hopefully interesting and a nice read for you xx
You might know that back in January 2022 I needed a double bypass due to catastrophic damage to my coronary arteries caused by Kawasaki's disease. My story is quite literally a one in a million, and a scary one at that but I am getting back to full heart health! My cardiac rehab started with just going to the end of my road, then to my village pub(for a coke!), walking 5km, walking 10km, walking 15km and then back to running 5km which I did in just over 4 months post op. I was one of the lucky ones that bounced back after my op, being younger definitely would have helped!!
I have now been given the all clear to complete the 3 Yorkshire peak hike next weekend. We will climb the 3 Yorkshire peaks in under 12 hours, ascending 1585m over the course of 24 miles/40km, almost a marathon, eek! I did a trail hike of 25km yesterday and it was really tough so very nervous!!!
In case you think of Kawasaki as a motorbike (we’ve had some fun jokes on here!) , it is also an is an immune syndrome that normally affects children under the age of 5 and it is the leading cause of acquired heart disease for paediatric patients in developed countries. However, with treatment, few children have lasting cardiac damage...if it is caught in time. I want to raise money to increase the awareness of the disease by educating doctors so that no child develops the associated heart disease as well as supporting people with a history of Kawasaki Disease.
My diagnosis being missed, aged 20, was no surprise as it’s exceptionally rare in adults. However, diagnosing the extensive heart disease it caused in my 30s has been a real journey. I was dismissed by every doctor and eventually was listened to and had just about every test you could imagine in hospital! I was lucky enough to be seen by one of the world's leading experts in KD after my surgery and he was the first person to recognise the diagnostic features in my heart. I have since read that KD should be considered for any young person with acquired heart disease and I want to get the message out there! Young dodgy ticker?…think Kawasaki! I’m going to start working with the charity I’m raising money for in some sort of capacity soon, probably educating doctors as I do that as a part of my day job already 
If you would like to support me I’ve put the link below but I mainly wanted to post a positive story for you all. Lots of love from my newly plumbed heart, Rosie xxx
Hike to Everest Base Camp anyone? 
Unexpected double heart bypass and heart disease 
One year on and trying to be positive
Heart Attack with unobstructed arteries
cardiomyopathy, systolic heart failure.
