Imran's Story

In July 2018 I was diagnosed as having end stage heart failure and was informed that a heart transplant was the only solution. At only 37 years of age I suddenly found myself in the last chance saloon and had no idea whether I would be going back home again. Yet today, thanks to God, my donor, the staff at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham and the support and love of my family and friends, I have never felt better and am enjoying life more than ever. I am living proof that however serious things may seem, or get, there is always hope. 

Before my heart issues were diagnosed I had led a normal, healthy, active lifestyle, with no reason to think that my heart would suddenly and rapidly deteriorate. My first indication that something was wrong was severe shortness of breath so that I felt like I was drowning in dry air. I became very tired and lethargic, unable to walk even a few steps, or turn while trying to sleep.

Looking back I realise that I was so far gone, and so severely ill, that my heart was down to its last few beats. Had it not been for my sister who recognised the severity of my condition and rushed me down to the local hospital I probably would not be here today.

Upon assessing me, my local hospital immediately transferred me to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham who specialise in heart and lung conditions.

By this point I had no idea where I was or what was happening. I had so little energy I could barely lift the pen to sign the consent form for my transplant procedure. The most difficult autograph ever!

Apparently I underwent several unsuccessful operations to save my barely beating heart, before being placed on a Bivad machine (an artificial heart), but I have no recollection of these things. I was also put into an induced coma, to aid my recovery, which I struggled to wake up from. Over the next few months I was left fighting for my life, as almost all my major organs went into acute failure. I truly believe that 24/7 care from QEHB doctors and staff, and prayers from my family and friends, kept me alive until a suitable donor heart was found. 

And so it was that three months or so after being admitted to hospital I awoke one day with my mind clear, an almighty thumping sensation in my chest and a beating sound in my ears. For a moment I couldn’t work out what it was and had to ask the doctor who said: “That’s your new heart; take care of it!”

The feeling was indescribable. I had been ill for so long I had forgotten what a normal, healthy beating heart felt and sounded like. It was a miraculous feeling, as if I had been reborn. It was nothing less than the gift of life, a gift from unknown donor who was prepared to donate their organs so that someone else’s life could be saved. There are no words that can express my feelings of appreciation and love for that person, or express my thanks to their family.

Having received a healthy new heart, my challenge wasn’t yet over; there now followed a period of rehab which was difficult, demanding, and even excruciating at times, as I had to relearn how to walk, talk, eat, sleep and function like an independent human being, and come to terms mentally and physically with what had happened and the journey still to come.

I was fortunate that I was able to finish the rehab in a record time of fourteen days. I put this down to a natural competitive spirit – I was determined to beat the previous record of 18 days – and a desire to get home to my wife and children as well as the amazing work of the physio team.

Looking back now the period of my illness and transplant seems like an unreal dream. I spent so much of the time unconscious or unaware of what was happening, punctuated by strange dreams and occasional short, sharp moments of wakefulness. Momentary flashes of memory such as seeing my family and friends at my bedside, their faces wrought with anxiety; an occasion after my operation when a bunch of my friends all video-called me; hearing that my story had been spread far and wide via WhatsApp and social media and that so many people were thinking of me and praying for me.

And for me the most crucial and poignant memory of all: the day my doctor told me that a suitable heart had been found. The day my life could start again

Moving forward

Now that I have a future again I am currently planning to take part in the British Transplant Games, Coventry 2023, competing in archery, football and table tennis, and hoping for silverware, to honour my donor and to prove to myself that I am able to do all that I did before. I hope that a successful tournament can pave the way to participation in the World Transplant Games in the near future.  I also have plans to set up a charity to raise money for UHB Charity, with over a £1000 raised so far.