On Tuesday 1st of March at 10pm, my world started spinning. My husband Greg - out of nowhere - had two heart attacks at home. An ambulance - well two in fact - and a first response car were sent. He was seen to and as far as I was aware everything was in hand. A stent would be put in as soon as he got to ARI and things looked good as an ambulance was called in time. Phew, those 999 what’s your emergency shows came in handy. I was told to call ARI in 2 hours to get more info….

On Wednesday 2nd of March at 5am, my world fell apart. Things hadn’t gone to plan on the way to Aberdeen, and Greg had 3 cardiac arrests on the way to hospital!!! I was told he had been put into an induced coma and was in intensive care…

On Thursday 3rd of March at 6pm, my world stood still. Greg had been transferred down to the Golden Jubilee Hospital in Glasgow. This is the heart specialist unit in Scotland. The best of the best in Scotland we’re looking after him. I was told that it was touch and go whether he would make it through the night…

The next few days were touch and go. His heart was goosed. His BP was shot. His oxygen levels weren’t holding. The days went past in a vivid blur. I couldn’t go to Glasgow as with 4 kids at home (13, 6, 5 & 4) I had to be here to make sure their worlds kept spinning.

Things started looking up. His levels started getting stable. He was still critical but we got through the first 72 hours so things weren’t looking as touch and go

Fast forward……

On Thursday 10th March, Greg’s heart had made such an amazing recovery that he no long needed to be in Glasgow. He was still in a coma and on a ventilator and classed as critical but his heart no long required any additional support. He was transferred back to Aberdeen ICU.

On Friday 11th March, I got to see Greg. It was the hardest day of my life. He was in a bad way. They were trying to take him off the sedation but he had delirium which was causing him to freak the hell out. It was like a scene from the exorcist. This wasn’t my husband of 6 years - partner for 11. The lights were on, but no one was home. I was fighting back the tears and almost left. I told the nurses I wouldn’t be back until he was more settled. Mentally I couldn’t cope. I was hanging on by a thread.

On Sunday 13th March I put my big girl pants on and went back in. The update I received from the hospital the day before was not worth the phone call. So the only way was to look into the whites of their eyes. Off I went with my notepad and pen. I wasn’t leaving until I had answers. I spoke to a wonderful Dr who told me what was happening and what the plan was. They were going to try and take Greg out of his coma and off the ventilator. We had a plan

On Monday 14th March at 5pm, my world started turning again. Greg was awake!!!! Out of his coma, no ventilator. Breathing ON HIS OWN! I couldn’t believe this was the same person I saw only 3 days ago. He couldn’t speak but he could nod and give me a thumbs up.

I spoke to a dr who had seen Greg the night he was first admitted to ICU in Aberdeen. He told me he couldn’t believe what he was seeing as he didn’t think Greg was going to make it through that first night. 1 cardiac arrest can be fatal but 3 is normally catastrophic.

On Tuesday 15th March I had hope. He knew who I was straight away. Other than that he was speaking nonsense. But he was speaking. They explained that he still had delirium and was having the come down from hell with all the drugs coming out his system. This would take a few days but once they are out they can assess him properly (both his head & his heart) to see if/what damage has been caused

On Wednesday 16th March I finally stopped holding my breath. Greg is being moved from ICU to the Cardiac ward!!!! It is honestly a miracle. Someone has been watching over us that’s for sure.

Why have I written this long winded detailed account of the hell I have been through. Because the reason Greg got through this was because there was a defibrillator to hand. To restart his heart 3 times. Without this, I would be writing a very different - and much shorter - account. But none the same, what I am trying to do would be the same…

In all of this craziness my life changed in another way. I won a competition which would see my money worries melt away. With this prize I got a cash amount. I have been thinking what good I can do with this money. And I’ve decided that I would like to buy 2 new defibrillators for my village. We currently have one at the pub which is central to the village. But had the worst happened and Greg had had a cardiac arrest at home there is no way I would have managed to get to it and back in time. Not a hope in hell.

My plan is to have one outside the village hall and another one at the other side of the village beside Mortimer’s way. This way all sides of the village should make it to a defibrillator in time. EVERY SECOND COUNTS

I’ve run into a snag. These life saving machines are more expensive than I thought. They are about £3000 each. A small price to pay for a life but I don’t have £6000 unfortunately.

I will 100% pay for one unit out of the money I won, but in order to get 2 I’m going to need a little help. I’ve started a fundraising page to try and raise the funds for the other one. This will be register for not only Premnay but all surrounding areas.

I hope these never ever need to be used. But knowing that they are there and everyone has a chance would be amazing.

Any donations are much appreciated. This machine saved my husbands life. Without it I would be planning a funeral, not thinking about all the things we can do.

Xx