Staying positive through multiple surgeries: Kieran's story

Kieran Cooper was born with transposition of the great arteries. This is a congenital heart defect where the two main vessels, which carry blood out of the heart, are switched in position.

“From being a baby to about 11, operations on my heart were all I knew. When I was really young I didn’t understand what was going to happen to me, so I was scared. Then from about seven I started to understand the risks and that was also daunting.

It became less scary when I was a teenager. I trusted the doctors. I understood what they were saying: the medical terms they used and what they were going to do to my body. I felt I was in good hands.

Get support with your health and wellbeing

Sign up to our fortnightly Heart Matters newsletter to receive tips on coping with difficult emotions, looking after your health and living well. Joining is free and takes two minutes.

I’d like to sign-up

Focusing on the positives

Kieran Cooper lying in a hospital bed as a teenager, showing his wound post-op

I started to focus on the positives and on the benefits

As I got into my twenties and thirties I did start to focus on the positives and on the benefits. For example, when I had a pacemaker fitted the doctors told me I would have more energy. And it was like a brand-new lease of life. So I focus on that.

Thinking positively means understanding that the doctors know what they are doing, that I will soon be out of hospital and my health will be better afterwards.

After I married Mollie and we had our daughter, Emily, I was more worried about them than about myself. The first procedure I had after Emily was born was having a pacemaker replaced and I was worried that when Emily came to see me she would be scared. So I explained as much as possible to her about what it was for and what it would be like in hospital.

Seeing the funny side

Kieran Cooper lying in a hospital bed as a toddler

I run the Small and Shouty Comedy Club, where I also perform stand-up comedy. In my own routine I build in jokes about my heart condition and the operations I’ve had. I suppose it is looking at something that could be frightening – because I have had to have many operations and procedures – and making fun of it.

I actually think I feel a lot better than someone who has had only one operation, just because it’s all I’ve known. I’ve had so many and nothing has ever gone wrong. I trust the doctors and medical science.”

Information and help

If you feel overwhelmed with worry, let your healthcare team know as they may be able to refer you for help. You can also:

Refer yourself directly to an NHS talking therapies service.
Use our Heart Helpline to speak with BHF cardiac nurses about any fears you're having. The helpline is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.