What was a typical run at his local running club quickly turned into a life-threatening situation for 59-year-old Noel when his heart suddenly stopped.
“I had the attitude of just doing a few laps. I belong to St Andrew’s Athletic Club and had a 10-mile race in Monaghan that weekend. The track started to get busy, and I was enjoying my run, so I decided to stay a bit longer. I was almost to 13 kilometres when I’ve been told, because I lost all memory, I went over to the side of the track, got down on my hands and knees and fell over dead. I had a heart attack and went into cardiac arrest.
“A woman on the track immediately began resuscitation and a defibrillator was located. There just happened to be a nurse and doctor running on the track at that time. I couldn’t have picked a better day for dying.
“There are plenty of times when I go out running on my own. I could have left before the track got busy. I could have been driving down the road when it happened. The right people were there at the right time and that is why I’m alive today. It’s as simple as that.
“My heart stopped again in the ambulance on the way to the Mater Hospital. The medical staff weren’t very optimistic on whether I’d make it or not. They said the survival rate for what happened to me is only 3%. That’s very, very low.
“As soon as I arrived at the hospital, they did a balloon angioplasty to see what the damage to my heart was. I had four blocked arteries. Five days after I was admitted, the Mater completed a quadruple bypass on me. The cardiologists who performed the operation, they said to me after, ‘We can’t believe it. We don’t know how you’re still alive.’ The reality was, I should have been dead.
“About a week after the procedure, I went home. The cardiologist told me to take things easy because they knew I liked to run. On the mental side of things, I was terrified. I was terrified to go to the toilet, terrified to be on my own. It was a big mental shock.
“The Cardiac Rehab team in Heart House helped me gain my confidence back. They taught me to listen to my body. I would have been lost without them.
“Leading up to my cardiac arrest, I had been experiencing a pain in my back. I knew there was something not right with me. I wasn’t performing the same on my runs. Since then, I’ve learned, one of the main symptoms of having blocked arteries is having pain in your back. I didn’t know it at the time. You’d never think it meant I had an issue with my heart.
“It was only when I was in the hospital, I found out my grandfather died a young lad, early 60s, with a heart attack. I learned that my condition is genetic. Like plaque on teeth, the artery gets clogged with build-up over time and blood can’t pass through the artery anymore.
“It’s been 5 months since my heart stopped. Since then, I’ve finished rehab with the Mater just before Christmas. My two daughters, Áine and Seána have been checked for the genetic condition… All good so far, but it is something they will have to keep in mind.
“At the running club, we had around 60 people come and take CPR training and learn how to use a defibrillator. We made sure the Eircode is clearly labelled on the defibrillator and that members know where it is located. Nobody ever thought something like what happened to me would ever happen at the club. But it did. Now, those 60 people might be able to save someone’s life. They have the confidence and training.
“What happened, happened and I’m still here. I’m one of the survivors, one of the three percent. It’s thanks to the immediate CPR I received from the members of my running club that I’m here. Without their quick intervention and the aid of the defibrillator, I would not have made it.
“I owe a massive thanks to my wife Cemile as well. The whole ordeal put an awful strain on her. It’s who you leave behind that matters in situations like these and I’m thankful for the care and love she gave me throughout this.
“I’m so grateful for that. There are times I go outside for a walk now and see a wee bird and think ‘God, that’s amazing,’ and I’m so happy to be alive.
“Now, my daughter and I are taking part in 100 Miles in a Month for Cardiac Care in the Mater Hospital. From the cardiologists and nurses to the catering staff and the rehab team in the Heart House, I couldn’t speak highly enough about them. The care and love they give, absolutely magic.
“It’s going to be hard for me; it won’t be easy to be honest with you. But I will do it. I just have to listen to my body. We’ll get there and that’s the plan.”
Noel Williamson, Antrim
Support Noel, his daughter and the 100-miles community this February as they take on the challenge and help make a real difference to cardiac patients in Ireland. Go to our 100 Miles page and donate today!