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.

Focusing on the positives

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

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.”

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