A new perspective on life: Hina and Hiral's story

Hina’s story

“My heart attack happened when I was preparing for Diwali. I follow Jainism, which is one of the oldest religions in India, and Diwali is one of our most important festivals. We get together with our families; we celebrate with sweet dishes and remind ourselves that we are not here forever, which is very poignant given what happened to me that day in 2007.

Hiral and I were making chokito together – puffed rice balls with dates and cocoa powder, rolled in coconut. We were going to have guests popping in during Diwali. Friends and relatives come and greet you and you offer them something to eat. It’s like an open house.

Hiral was a lovely child – she would follow me everywhere and she wanted to do what I was doing. I was working during the week, so our weekends together were special.

My husband Bijal had gone to pick up our son Bhaveer, who was out at a  lesson – he was learning to play tabla, which are hand drums. At the time we lived with my in-laws who were in the house.

I couldn’t breathe

Suddenly I got this choking feeling, as if I couldn’t breathe, and felt very unwell. I went upstairs to lie down, and after a few minutes Hiral came up. By this time I couldn’t speak properly. I took her hand and said: “Mummy isn’t well. Go and get granddad.”

I saw the expression on her face change. Even though she was small she understood the urgency and brought my father-in-law upstairs, keeping hold of his hand. He called an ambulance, which took me to hospital.

It was such a shock to find out I’d had a heart attack. I was a young woman with a healthy lifestyle, but the doctors did explain that being South Asian meant I had a greater risk of coronary heart disease. Suddenly I had a label added to me; now I was a heart patient. Everything I’d known was shaken out from under me and I had to figure out: is it safe to exercise? Can I work? Do I have to change my diet? Can I look after my children?

I adopted a healthier lifestyle

Being in an extended family really helped Hiral, because there were other family members in the home who loved her and who looked after her while I was in hospital for a while. 

Seeing how upset she was made me realise the enormity of what had happened

I had angioplasty to widen a narrowed artery in my heart. The next day Hiral came to see me in hospital. She saw me in the hospital gown, with a lot of tubes going into my arm.

Seeing how upset she was made me realise the enormity of what had happened. I was trying to be positive all the time but the expression on her face made me realise that if I had died it would have been terrible for the people I love. My son was 10 at the time and he was also shaken to see his mum in hospital, having gone through a life-or-death situation.

It made me realise what is important in life

I wanted to be as healthy as possible. I started being even more careful about what I eat, only rarely having fried food and eating plenty of fruit and vegetables every day. I did cardiac rehab, then when I was stronger I exercised every day and went to the gym regularly. More than anything it changed my perspective. It made me realise what is important and what is not. I value family, friendships and the skills I can bring to my work in the financial sector. I get less frustrated with small annoyances. 

I've had a second chance at life

I almost feel that the heart attack was like a second birthday for me. Yes, I was living before, but I got a second chance at it. Every milestone, every birthday I have celebrated, my own and the children’s, really feels like a gift.

Hiral is 21 now and she is an amazing, very loving and caring young lady. Growing up she saw how as a family we prioritise exercise, healthy eating and making sure we have enjoyable activities outside work. I try to have a balanced, happy and fulfilling life. I am hoping she has seen some of those values in everything we have done since my heart attack.”

Hiral’s story

“I would describe Mum as a driven and caring person. One thing I am really inspired by is how she has managed to carry on her career, her social and family life, and balance all of that, while dealing with her heart attack.

What I remember most about that day is Mum suddenly rushing out of the kitchen. I was baffled, thinking – why has she rushed out when we haven’t finished making the sweets for Diwali? I followed her to the bedroom and she was gasping for breath. She managed to say: “Get granddad”, which I did, and he called the ambulance.

My grandma wanted to keep things normal for me and so she carried on making the sweets with me. I remember feeling annoyed because they’re supposed to be round balls and she was making them into squares. I knew that wasn’t how Mum did it.

The next day I was taken to see Mum in hospital, which was scary for me. When she came home she took time off work to recover, so she had more time to spend with me. But she couldn’t do many of the things we used to do, like go up to the loft, or play hide and seek. Instead we spent a lot of time at the dining table doing arts and crafts.

So I actually quite enjoyed that time with Mum. I reckon my brother was more worried. He was older so he had a better grasp of what was going on.

Mum and Dad’s healthy lifestyle influenced me

My parents are concerned about their health and exercise more than my friends' parents in the South Asian community. My mum and dad would prioritise going to the gym or yoga classes. We had really healthy meals. I had pizzas at home sometimes but, unlike my friends, I didn’t have takeaway pizza for along time, so it was subtle things like that. It wasn’t like sweets or fizzy drinks were banned – I just saw them as a treat or for going out, not something for every day.

When I went to university I had a fairly decent diet. I am a vegetarian, and don’t snack much. I have realised that the South Asian community can be a bubble where people don’t always have the healthiest lifestyle. Having sugar in tea and sweets is the norm, also fried, oily food. The first step to becoming healthy is becoming aware.

Don’t take life for granted

I am more aware about making the most of life because of what happened to Mum when she was in her thirties.

Life is precious, and our time together is precious

I studied economic history at university and I am doing an internship in the financial sector. I’m enjoying living with some friends in a flat and eventually I’m hoping to work as an analyst within the investment business. But Mum and Dad have made me realise there is more to life than work. Dad loves to cycle and Mum loves yoga. They both say you should make time to do things you love and that is their philosophy in life. 

I enjoy being around my family. On Sundays I take the train to my brother’s flat, we drive to my parents and spend time with them and my grandparents. I make an effort to spend time with them all and it’s like our little routine. I am aware that life is precious, and our time together is precious.”

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