Coming to terms with dilated cardiomyopathy
Deb Coleman has learnt how to cope with
cardiomyopathy.
Deb suffered a cardiac arrest during the
birth of her second son, Cameron. She had to be resuscitated, and
initially the doctors thought only her son would survive. She was
put on life support and in hospital for nearly a month, but
made a recovery despite the odds.
She has since been diagnosed as having
dilated cardiomyopathy.
“When I had Cameron, I had a caesarean section
and arrested as soon as I was injected with the medication. It was
only then that anyone realised that I might have a problem with my
heart.”
I'm very luck in the fact that cardiomyopathy doesn't have a big impact on my life.
That experience had a
big impact on her outlook on life but she’s not letting her
condition hold her back. When not doing charity bike rides, running
a busy family home or singing, she has a full time job as a
photojournalist and professional photographer.
“It’s coming up to seventeen years since I had
my cardiac arrest. I don’t really think about it, taking my
medication is just like brushing your teeth. Something you do every
day.”