I was jogging my usual route when my legs started to feel heavy. My chest tightened. No matter how deeply I inhaled, it didn’t feel like enough. That’s when the voice in my head kicked in.
What is wrong with you? You used to run further than this. You’re out of shape. Try harder.
You see, at 51, I led a very active life. I was the kind of person who got up at 4:30 a.m. every single day—yes, even on weekends—to go running, despite broken toes, freezing rain or snowstorms. Hot yoga was also an integral part of my life. But I had felt my endurance declining. Each activity was harder than the last. I thought I just needed to push myself more.
In the summer of 2023, my doctor heard a murmur while listening to my heart. After some testing, it was discovered one of my valves wasn’t working properly. It was flopping backward instead of sealing shut, allowing a significant amount of blood to leak in the wrong direction. They called it a prolapsed mitral valve with severe regurgitation, and without surgery to repair it, heart failure was a real possibility.
Dealing with my diagnosis and the wait for surgery was an arduous trek. My older sister, Linda, had passed away suddenly in her sleep from an undiagnosed heart issue. She was only 52. I convinced myself the same thing would happen to me. I’d lie awake every night, wondering if I would ever see my loved ones again.
As my health got worse, my world became very small. Running and hot yoga became impossible. I couldn't work. Some days, just walking up the stairs was like trying to climb a mountain in bad weather. I felt as though I’d become trapped inside a very old and weak person's body.
Then I met Dr. Michael Chu at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) who specializes in minimally invasive heart surgery.
A sense of calm washed over me the moment we first spoke. When he described the plan for my procedure, I got goosebumps. I thought: No wonder he’s a renowned cardiac surgeon. I knew I was in good hands. On May 10, 2024, I remember being brought into the Cardiac Hybrid Operating Room. With all the buttons, screens and unfamiliar machines, it looked like a spaceship. During the five-hour surgery, Dr. Chu and his team repaired my mitral valve through a small incision on the right side of my chest.
The first couple of days following heart surgery were physically and emotionally challenging. But the staff at LHSC gave exceptional care. They were attentive, encouraging and supportive. I’ll never forget the nurse who stopped by to say goodbye at the end of his shift, knowing he wouldn't see me again.
After five days in the hospital, I was wheeled out into the sunshine of a beautiful day and I cried tears of relief, happiness and gratitude. Everything felt different now.
Three months later, Dr. Chu personally called to see how I was doing. I’ve never heard of a surgeon taking time out of their busy schedule to check on a patient. He was genuinely interested in my recovery and sounded so happy to hear about my test results.
It’s been over a year since my heart surgery. I am back to teaching kindergarten full-time. Every morning, I wake up grateful for my second chance at life. I find myself crying tears of joy over the simplest things I used to take for granted. I feel a deeper love and appreciation for the people and animals around me. I see life as a beautiful, mysterious and fragile gift.
I have now become fascinated with the connection between the mind, body and heart. I want to encourage people to never underestimate their inner voice or minimize your symptoms. Our thoughts, our emotions and the way we speak to ourselves affect our heart and overall health.
Recently, I taught myself how to draw and paint. I even completed a heart-themed piece as a gift for Dr. Chu. It’s strange—I’ve never had this ability before my procedure. Linda was always the artist in our family. But when I paint, it feels like she’s beside me, guiding the brush.
This fall, I’m signed up for two half-marathons. Dr. Chu and the amazing staff at LHSC will be on my mind the whole time. I’m here today because of them and I’m forever grateful.
To mark the one-year anniversary of her heart surgery, Kelly drove two hours from Kingsville to deliver a hand-assembled basket of goodies to the cardiac care team at LHSC. It was her way of saying thank you to the people who helped save her life.