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In March 2019 I was diagnosed with CTEPH (Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension) at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London having been referred from my local Hospital, Royal Berkshire Hospital.  For a couple of years previous my performance on a bike had tailed off and I’d put this down to getting older and needing to train harder.  My local GP surgery had initially diagnosed worsening hay fever, bordering on asthma.  However by Christmas 2018 I began struggling with shortness of breath climbing stairs.  Another visit to my GP surgery ensued and they arranged investigations at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

CTEPH is the result of blood clots forming in my lungs and my body failing to disperse them properly, resulting in blockages (scarring) in my lungs.  These blockages were restricting blood flow, so my heart compensated by pumping harder, resulting in pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the circuit from the right side of my heart to my lungs) and an enlarged struggling heart.

Fortunately I was deemed a good candidate for a (PEA) Pulmonary Endarterectomy at the Royal Papworth Hospital.  In the UK this procedure is only performed at the Royal Papworth hospital, takes 8-10hrs and involves a sternotomy, cooling the body to 20deg, then switching me off for up to 20min to clear the blockages whilst there is a bloodless field.  This last bit happens twice to clear left and right sides.  This procedure was undertaken on 9^th December 2019, and was a great success. 
After a little arterial fibrillation I was discharged 1 week later on Monday 16^th December to begin my recovery at home.  

Our NHS is such a wonderful institution full of fantastically talented caring people.... THANKYOU!!!

Just as I returned to work (Morson International) the Corona Virus Pandemic hit and I found myself told to shield and like everyone else working from home.  The upside of this, is without commuting I could use the time saved to train in my shed.... finally back on my Bike!

Life is for living and grabbing every opportunity, I take nothing for granted and truly know how lucky I have been, so I've decided to cycle LEJOG.  As well as a personal goal I want to raise funds for PHA UK and help do my bit for others and to say thank you to all the people who have helped me.  Helping me on the road will be my domestiques, two great friends Richard Mills & Paul Butler not forgetting Uncle Michael driving the van.

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