Rebecca’s story

Less than a week before Christmas, Rebecca survived a heart attack at just 52 years old. Home alone, she first thought the chest pain was indigestion before eventually calling for help. When she arrived at hospital, doctors discovered 4 blockages in her heart and fitted 4 stents.

Even while resting and recovering in the hospital, Rebecca was determined to make sure Christmas went ahead. With the entire Christmas food shopping list stored in her memory, she directed her husband, Martin, around the supermarket from her hospital bed, telling him exactly what to buy.

The research funded by British Heart Foundation is absolutely amazing.
Rebecca

Fortunately, with the help of scientific research, Rebecca was back home with her family by Christmas Eve, ready to relax and celebrate her granddaughter’s first Christmas. Today, Rebecca enjoys cycling, swimming and long walks. Most of all, she treasures time with her grandchildren, moments that she will never take for granted.

Rebecca sits on a brown sofa next to her husband in front of a Christmas tree, they both laugh.

An AI tool to help predict heart attacks years before they happen

This Christmas, your donations could help power research that could enable doctors to identify people at higher risk of a heart attack years before it happens.

Every 5 minutes in the UK, someone is admitted to hospital with a heart attack. BHF-funded Professor Charalambos Antoniades and his team have developed CaRi-Heart®, an AI tool that analyses signs of inflammation around coronary arteries, which could help doctors take action sooner, and potentially prevent future heart attacks.

For families like Rebecca’s, this research could mean more time together, more memories, and more Christmases to come.