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Woman Lived 50 Years With Hole in Heart
23 Apr
Summary
- A 55-year-old woman lived 50 years with a hole in her heart.
- She collapsed during a bike ride and was later diagnosed with ASD.
- Multiple surgeries failed before successful open-heart surgery.
A woman from Essex, aged 55, has learned she lived for 50 years with a significant congenital heart defect. The discovery came after she collapsed during a bike ride in June 2022. Initially attributing the episode to menopause, she was eventually referred to specialists who diagnosed her with an atrial septal defect (ASD), a hole in her heart.
Despite the defect being present her entire life, it had gone undetected until her collapse. Attempts at keyhole surgery to repair the hole, which was reportedly the size of a two-pence coin, were unsuccessful. In April 2024, she underwent open-heart surgery where a pacemaker was implanted. She is now recovering well and participating in fundraising activities.
