Hello

My name is Steph and I am preparing to run the Cardiff Half Marathon in support of the British Heart Foundation (BHF), just months after receiving a pacemaker following a series of frightening blackouts caused by a faulty sinus node.

I first experienced symptoms three years ago when I temporarily lost my sight while driving home from an emergency vet visit. 

A year later, I had my first syncope episode where I lost consciousness for approximately 15 seconds - this time while driving home from a dog walk on the beach.

I had this strange feeling of déjà vu and a drop in my stomach. It was a similar feeling to when I had lost my sight previously. I knew something wasnt right and I wanted to pull over, but before I had a chance everything went blank, and I drove into the car in front.

Fortunately, everyone involved in the accident was unharmed. Concerned about what had happened, I went to A&E. I thought I was going to be there for a few hours, but I ended up staying for a week while the doctors ran a series of tests.

Doctors suspected a heart-related issue and implanted a loop recorder to monitor my heart rhythm.

A year later, I collapsed again - this time in the shower, hitting my head and requiring seven staples. 

When they checked the loop recorder, they found my heart had stopped for a total of 12 seconds. That’s when they diagnosed sinus node dysfunction and confirmed I needed a pacemaker.

The sinus node acts as the heart’s natural pacemaker, regulating the rhythm and timing of each heartbeat. My blackouts had been caused by her heart beating too slowly to sustain consciousness.

The diagnosis was a shock. I was only 34. I’m still coming to terms with it all now.

Despite the challenges, I am determined to reclaim my independence and confidence. 

Before my diagnosis, I was scared to go anywhere alone. I kept second-guessing myself - what if I collapsed again? I very quickly realised how much I had taken for granted in life. I initially didn't leave the house for a couple of months, not knowing if I would have another episode. I also kept thinking about how much worse each episode could have turned out. It took me a long time to rebuild my confidence and start to feel happy in myself. It has been a real struggle mentally.

As part of restoring my self-confidence, I signed up for the Cardiff Half Marathon on October 5 - my first ever running event.

It’s been a mentally tough journey, but I’m ready to take this on.

I am raising funds for the BHF, whose research helped develop the pacemaker technology that now keeps my heart beating safely. 

In Dorset there are around 61,000 people living with a heart or circulatory condition. The BHF funds research into their prevention, treatment and cure.