Hugo’s Story

“Myself and my wife, Rosangela, moved to Ireland from South Africa three and a half years ago. Based in Kildare with our eleven-year-old son Luca, we instantly felt at home and I have a job I love in the car industry. Life couldn’t have been better, but then at the start of 2024, I began to feel unwell.

“I had these flu-like symptoms I just couldn’t shake. I was regularly at the doctors and on antibiotics, I couldn’t focus on anything and had absolutely no energy. Even walking 50 metres would leave me completely out of breath. Then on the 3rd June, I collapsed at home and was rushed by ambulance to my local hospital.

“After an intensive batch of tests, I was told I was in advanced heart failure with a heart pump function of 10%. Over the next month I continued to have numerous scans and the local hospital tried a number of medications to see if they could find a balance for my heart. However, the problems kept building up – I had a 3mm clot in my left side of my heart, as well as severe scaring and was diagnosed with a condition called Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

“One of the toughest things during that time was that I only got to see my son once. I was really worried that I might not get to see him grow up and that really got to me. Eventually, a decision was made that the only way forward for me would be a heart transplant, and I was referred to the Mater Hospital.

“I was really low at that stage, I just knew I was fading. That’s when I met Prof. Emer Joyce. She sent me for an ECG on arrival, and another Echocardiogram, and after assessing all tests seemed to be able describe to a ‘T’ what was happening to me. She told me I needed to be admitted to CCU (Critical Care Unit) immediately.

“I relaxed for the first time in six weeks – I just had a feeling I was in the right place and under the care of the right team. Prof. Joyce  explained that she would like to start me off on one of her “famous recipes” of medication. Her aim was stabilise my situation and try avoid the transplant by all means.

“We stopped some meds and started some others and I was sent for a Right Heart Catheterisation. From this procedure, Prof. Joyce could get a clearer indication of what the pressures in the heart were doing. The plan was to ‘bridge’ me on to the most effective medication to help my condition.

“The last few months of 2024 saw the team constantly adapt to and review my situation.  Medications changed, additional Heart Catheterisations identified a ‘hole in my heart’ and the fact that my mitral valve wasn’t functioning well, I had times when I felt really unwell – but slowly, I seemed to be making some progress.

“My most recent Echocardiogram in December showed that my heart pump function had risen to 35%, a huge improvement. At the moment, I can walk for up to 3.5 kilometres  having been only able to manage 400 metres a couple of months back, so I can see the progress.  I have days where I feel better than others with lots of ups and downs, dizzy spells, blood pressure drops, etc., but one day at a time I will be back to my old self. It is a slow and steady journey and my faith and my family is my driver.

“My experience at The Mater has been second to none. Words cannot describe just how special this place is. From the cleaning staff right up to head-doctor levels, everybody has a special place in my heart. The staff make you feel so special and comfortable and are always so positive and reassuring.

“I will forever be grateful to Prof. Joyce and her whole team, as well as the CCU team for everything they have done for me and continue to do. They saved my life with the utmost care, consideration and professionalism and gave me a second chance to be with my family.

“When I saw the 100 Mile Challenge to raise funds for the cardiac division at The Mater, I just knew that I had to get involved. Not only from my personal life-changing experience, but what a cause to help anyone else needing cardiac care at the hospital. This cause is so close to my heart and I am grateful to be able to be a part of it, even if it will challenge me to complete.

“I hope sharing my story can help anyone else going through what I am going through and reassure them that there is hope.  It is not easy, it would never be, but maintaining a positive mind and believing in yourself is half the battle won! DON’T GIVE UP!”

Hugo Arrota, Kildare