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New support group gets to heart of matter
The first meeting of the new Gainbsorough Heart Support Group who meet at the Trentside Day Unity at John Coupland Hospital G120503-5
Ian Davidson was 65 when he had two heart attacks within the space of 24 hours.
He was living in Zimbabwe, a country he had emigrated to 50 years earlier.
He survived to tell the tale and, now 71, he is a founder member of Gainsborough Heart Support Group.
Ian, of Cecil Court, moved back to this country in 2009, the year after his heart attacks, with his partner Julie Lax, 69, who he met in Zimbabwe.
She lived there for 40 years and also has a heart condition called atrial fibrillation, which causes the heart to race.
Ian, who had his own auto-electric business, said: “I think my heart attacks were probably a result of the stresses and strains of living out there, and the living conditions.”
“We decided to come back here partly because conditions became impossible.”
He had a stent fitted to his heart to keep his arteries working properly and is on permanent medication, but is fairly fit and active.
“I’m not too bad, considering,” he said.
Ian puts a lotof his successful recovery down to the excellent cardiac rehabilitation treatment he received at the Trentside unit, next to John Coupland Hospital.
He said: “It’s really excellent. I found it very beneficial, it was like putting the finishing touches to everything.”
“It gave me that extra confidence.”
Patients are referred to Trentside by their hospital consultant, for the six-week rehab programme.
Julie, who also has an enlarged heart and blood pressure problems, was so impressed by the care Ian received, she ended up volunterring at the centre.
She said: “I went with Ian and then they asked me to be a volunteer for them.”
“Now I go every Wednesday morning to make tea and join in the exercises.”
“We have two classes of all different ages, both men and women, and the nurses come over from Lincoln to work with them.”
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Weather for Gainsborough
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 4 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North west
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Light showers
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