Cardiac arrest at 26: adjusting to a new ‘normal’

At the age of 26, Tom Pickersgill had never been fitter.

Diagnosed with an enlarged heart as a baby, Tom was later re-diagnosed with ALCAPA Syndrome at 16, a rare congenital heart condition that can be fatal if not corrected. He underwent an open-heart surgery that gave him an extraordinary new lease on life.

For the next decade, exercise became a big part of Tom’s life, participating in high-stamina sports such as kickboxing, triathlons and extreme rock climbing all over the world.

But on the morning of 11 May 2013, Tom didn’t feel quite right. He had been feeling unwell, like he had the flu, and hadn’t done any exercise.

That’s all Tom remembers from that day. He woke up five days later in intensive care. He had suffered a near-fatal cardiac arrest.

In an amazing twist of fate, two nurses travelling in opposite directions both saw Tom clutch his chest, fall back and hit his head on the footpath. They immediately ran to his aid, called Triple Zero and alternately performed CPR.

During this time, another car stopped – it contained four employees from NOVA radio station that had recently trained in CPR. All four assisted the nurses and performed CPR on Tom until the ambulance arrived.

The ambulance came within 16 minutes and applied 14 shocks – unable to restore a normal rhythm the officers were about to “call it” but decided to try one more time.

Tom’s heart came back to life.

In hospital Tom was put into an induced coma for three days and his family was given a grim prognosis – he may not wake up, he may not be able to speak or walk again and he may have no short-term memory.

Tom woke after five days and had no immediate memory, but over the course of a week his memory improved. At this time, he had more heart surgery and had an internal defibrillator inserted to shock his heart back into rhythm if it started failing again.

The next six months were a very dark time for Tom.

Tom had to adjust to a completely new ‘normal’. He had previously been employed as an MRI technician and part-time lecturer – a job he was passionate about. Having an internal defibrillator meant he was no longer able to do the same job.

After a decade of looking after his diet and exercising at very high levels – he lost all motivation. He began drinking and eating unhealthily. In his mind he had done all the right things and his heart had still failed him. What was the use of living a healthy life?

After a nine month 'bad patch', Tom finally sought help. He saw a GP and a psychologist and talked about his anxiety and depression, and after a few months began to feel that things were going to be okay.

Heart disease isn’t like having a cast on your leg or being in a wheelchair. It’s a silent thing. When you are struggling it’s sometimes hard to get across to someone who can never understand. Seeking help and meeting others in a similar situation definitely helped me.

Tom also got serious about his lifestyle again. He made major changes to his diet, improved his sleep, started exercising and continued to receive help for his mental and emotional wellbeing.

Today Tom is in a “good place”. He has a new role as a specialist in cardiac CT and MRI which takes him all around the world.

Tom also says his cardiac arrest is “the best thing that ever happened to me”. He is now happier than ever and has a clearer idea on what the “important things in life are”.

He also credits the support and unwavering love of his girlfriend Christina who stuck with him through the very dark times.

And today, what would Tom say to those who are struggling like he was after a heart event or heart surgery?

Looking for more tips and advice on living with a heart condition? Become a member of the Supporting Young Hearts online support group, where people with heart conditions can connect with each other, share stories, and learn more about how to manage their condition. Visit us here to find out more.