Edinburgh student's terrifying phone call as dad collapses before 'sudden diagnosis'
An Edinburgh student has told of the terrifying moment her dad collapsed while on the other end of the phone.
Aimee Halstead, 20, was all set up to take on her first 10k at the Edinburgh Marathon Festival on May 25. Having never participated in a running event before, she admits feeling 'pretty nervous', with her parents coming through from Bathgate to cheer her on.
Aimee gave them a call while walking to the festival, and was told they were on their way. While on the phone, Aimee's dad collapsed - and when she realised her mum wasn't making a joke Aimee was left with 'no idea what to do'.
Now recovering from open heart surgery, her dad was found to have aortic stenosis. Aimee admits it's been a 'scary and emotional time' for her family.
Before her dad was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Aimee didn't know whether to complete the 10k or find her parents. Recalling the day, she told Edinburgh Live: "I kept trying to text mum and I didn't know whether to run, or leave the race and go find them.
"Mum was saying it was fine, to just to the race. They didn't know what hospital they were going to and she said she'd talk to me after.
"I met them after at the Royal Infirmary, and doctors said he has something called aortic stenosis. Most people have about three heart valves, whereas they found out dad has only had two his whole life. He used to be a runner as well, I think just over time it's sort of worn down and unfortunately it's hit him now.
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'He had to get a bunch of procedures, and they eventually told him the only way to deal with it was to have open heart surgery. It was quite scary because doctors said if he hadn't collapsed that day, and it had gone unnoticed for another month or so, it could have been a very different story.
'In a way it's lucky he collapsed, and that it happened when it did. Seeing your dad like that is so scary though, and having to hear about the surgery was awful."
Aimee admitted that the 10k run was 'not enjoyable', as she spent most of it conflicted over what to do. She added "I was disappointed that my parents wouldn't be there at the finish line, but it was a nice achievement crossing the finish line because my friend did it with me.
(Image: Supplied)
"But as soon as I crossed the finish line I had about five seconds of thinking 'great I've done it', then instantly my mind went to 'where's dad and how is he'.
"It was really difficult because I didn't know that I was conflicted on whether do I even run this or do I try and find out what's happening. In that moment my mum and dad, they were kind of busy dealing with that, so I kept trying to text her and call her, but obviously she was trying to deal with my dad being unconscious and everything.
"All the roads were shut after for the marathon as well, so I was trying to get an Uber. It was my first running event as well so I was already nervous."
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Aimee is now looking to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation, 'in honour of her dad' as she hopes to make him proud.
She added: "You can find a lot of information so you don't feel as alone and you know that other patients and their families have gone through this. I wanted to do it for a charity that really means something to me.
"I also want to make my dad proud obviously because he's going through it right now. It was an incredibly scary and emotional time for our family, as the possibility of losing your dad is one of the scariest thoughts I've ever had
"That experience has made me even more passionate about raising money for the British Heart Foundation."
You can help Aimee with her fundraiser here.
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