Hi I’m Stephen Hendren from Glasgow and I had a heart transplant on 19th May 2018.

My heart journey started in February 2018 when my doctor thought I had a chest infection and put me on antibiotics. It didn’t seem to improve and I was due to go back for a review on the 9th April 2018. I wasn’t feeling great but went to work and drove into the security barrier. I parked my car and grabbed the first senior manager who took me to a local hospital with a resting heart rate of 155. After about 10 days and different drugs I had the first of many cardiac arrests and was blue lighted through rush hour the following day to the Golden Jubilee.

After Cardioversion to bring my heart rate down, biopsy, and various other tests my Cardiologist Jonny told me on the 12th May my heart was “done”. I was listed on the emergency transplant list on Monday 14th, arrested again on Tuesday with a balloon pump put in. That lasted a day before another cardiac arrest and I was put on the bi-vad machine and went to number one on the critical list. Three days later on Saturday 19th May I was given the amazing gift of a new heart. It turns out a virus, Sarcoidosis had attacked and destroyed my heart.

My recovery was good and I was out in 4 weeks. Unfortunately I had wound issues and was admitted again in 2 weeks. After different treatments to close the wound I eventually had 10 hours of plastic surgery in October 2018 to heal my wound. I was out for 6 weeks then was admitted again to a perforated bowel, not related to the transplant. After several months and various treatments I had to have bowel surgery in early May 2018, and was finally discharged from the Golden Jubilee 363 days after my transplant, quite a year.

After such an amazing gift from the donor’s family, and tremendous support from the team and fellow patients at the Golden Jubilee I have worked hard to recover my fitness. I play as much golf as the Scottish weather allows and walk 40-50 miles per week, come rain or shine I am back out on the bike, albeit electric.

I’m looking forward to meeting other members of the Mulligan Society at the end of June, I’ll do my best not to bring down the West of Scotland weather.