Latest news with #SavingLivesinCardiff
Wales Online
15-05-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
I used to walk for miles. When I got out of breath walking upstairs I knew something was wrong
I used to walk for miles. When I got out of breath walking upstairs I knew something was wrong Ceri from Aberdare had to wait six weeks for urgent double bypass surgery due to pressures on the NHS Ceri had to wait six weeks for life saving heart surgery due to pressures on the NHS on Saving Lives in Cardiff (Image: BBC/ Saving Lives in Cardiff ) A man from Aberdare had to wait six weeks for double bypass surgery because of pressures on the NHS. Ceri, 68, reached the top of the waiting list for urgent and necessary lifesaving heart surgery but faced delays for the lifesaving treatment he needed. Ceri was speaking on the BBC fly-on-the-wall series Saving Lives in Cardiff, set in the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. In the recent episode it revealed the waiting list for cardiothoracic surgery was 106 at the time of recording. Ceri, a former police officer and father of two, had unstable angina and had been suffering with pain in his chest for more than a year. It became noticeably worse during a rugby trip to watch the Six Nations in Edinburgh with his son Iestyn. He explained: "A lot of steep hills in Edinburgh and I was gasping for breath. The pains were particularly bad, really severe and my son Iestyn was mega concerned and probably a little bit scared as well, because I was. "He made me promise that as soon as I came home I went to see the doctor and one of the nurses said '99.9% certain that you have angina'." The man described having heart problems as being "debilitating" as he used to enjoy going for long walks but his condition was making him out breath just walking up the stairs. Article continues below Whilst wearing an Ospreys rugby shirt he joked that he was "looking forward to being able to watch the rugby and doing a bit of shouting and cheering, because I haven't been able to do that." He added: "I've had to go to the rugby and sit quietly whilst the Ospreys were scoring, and that's not natural.' Scans revealed that Ceri had previously had a heart attack that he was unaware of and that two of the main arteries that supply blood to his heart were severely blocked leaving it damaged and weakened. If this had regressed any further then could have died, which showed the urgency of the operation, especially after the delays caused by the problems facing the NHS. Ceri, who is also a full time carer for his 92-year-old mother was concerned how his health was impacting her too. He explained: "She occasionally falls and I have to pick her up and put her back into bed, or back on to the chair where she's fallen from and almost inevitably then I have an angina attack. 'I think it's really important for her that my operation goes well, I need to be back home looking after her basically.' As with all surgeries there are risks, but with surgery as invasive as this there would be an increased risk .But for Ceri, the benefits outweighed the risks. Before the surgery Ceri said he was nervous but also excited to get better 'to start enjoying life again'. The type of surgery that Ceri needed would usually use a bypass machine, but in the programme the lead surgeon Dheeraj Mehta often uses a beating heart technique as it is less risky and allows patients to recover quicker. He is one of only 10 surgeons to regularly do beating heart surgery and hasn't used a bypass machine for over 15 years despite having one on hand just in case. It means he works around the beating heart rather than putting it on bypass, which can be more difficult but means an easier recovery for patients. After surgery Ceri said: "I'm feeling surprisingly better than I thought I would be. I'm not as short of breath as I was. I could have died yesterday, and that's the bottom line, and I didn't, so that's a reason to skip and dance already." In the programme Dheeraj expressed his frustration with the significant issues that face the NHS. He said: "Being the lead surgeon is a mixed bag of emotions, having challenges coming at you from every direction on a daily basis can be somewhat overwhelming." Stay informed on the latest health news by signing up to our newsletter here . He continued: "We have significant issues without surgical waiting lists, staffing, facilities, and any one of these can mean we are unable to undertake all the operations that we might be able to otherwise perform. It's a real challenge but we must continue to work to resolve it." During the programme we see that over £172 million worth of improvements are needed across the health board. In Ceri's instance, they were not sure if they were going to be able to proceed with the surgery as leaky roofs in the ICU meant that there were less beds, meaning his operation could be cancelled just minutes before he meant to go down. The surgeon continued: "At the end of the day it's not cricket, we shouldn't be dependent on the case of rain stops play, but sadly that's the case in the NHS. I know we're not alone in this experience, the infrastructures in certain hospitals around the country are very old and in need of repair, and this is the day-to-day reality of that." Dheeraj added: 'To see a patient who has had bypass surgery sitting out of bed, engaging in normal conversation with people the morning after their surgery, is absolutely what my objective is with this beating heart approach.' Three weeks after his surgery, Ceri was discharged and returned to his home in Aberdare to care for his mother Enfys, who said she was 'over the moon' to have him home. He said: "I was glad to get home, even though when I came home I could do next to nothing. Least I could see she was well, and coping with everything that was going on. As time goes past, I can do more and more." Article continues below
Wales Online
15-05-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
Dentist found spot on woman's gum, eight days later she was taken in for gruelling 9-hour surgery
Dentist found spot on woman's gum, eight days later she was taken in for gruelling 9-hour surgery Marie appeared in an episode of BBC fly-on-the-wall series, Saving Lives in Cardiff, after receiving some shock news following her visit to the dentist Marie needs lifesaving jaw surgery to remove a cancerous tumour caused by smoking on Saving Lives in Cardiff (Image: BBC/ Saving Lives in Cardiff ) "I liked a good smoke up the clubs and everywhere then, about 20 a day, it was just a normal thing then wasn't it." Marie, 69, like many other people her age, was a regular smoker for 50 years. But her habit came back to haunt her when she went to see a dentist. "My sister, Beverley took me down, there was a spot on my gum and the specialist in there said that it was cancer." Her sister, Beverly added: "Then me and Marie left the dentist and both cried Marie was speaking on BBC fly-on-the-wall series, Saving Lives in Cardiff, from University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, in an episode which shone a spotlight on the impact smoking can have on individuals. The type of cancerous tumour in the the jaw Marie had was often caused by smoking, the episode heard. In the episode, maxillofacial surgeons, Cellan Thomas from Carmarthenshire and Drazsen Vuity from Hungary, who specialise in cancer, performing complex operations together as a team, carried out a long and intense surgery on Marie, to remove the tumour and reconstruct her jaw. She was diagnosed just eight weeks before being taken in for surgery. Stay informed on the latest health news by signing up to our newsletter here . Article continues below Marie went to the hospital the morning of her surgery with her sister, and also her husband of 50 years, Roger. Her husband emotionally added: 'For two months now, our life has been fooled by cancer, it just takes your own life, but Dr Thomas said he'd get us through it and not to worry, he's going to get us through it.' Marie added: 'Yes, he will. I'm looking forward to going back home and seeing my children and grandchildren, I'd like to get on with it now.' She said of her 50 years as a smoker: "That's what put me here and I got to give it up. You don't think it's going to happen to you do you?" Marie's operation was risky and extensive. To remove the tumour they had to take out a large section of her jaw and reconstruct it with bone from her leg. Her surgeon, Cellan said: If we don't do this surgery things will look very bleak for her." The cancer had already moved on to lymph nodes in her neck, which meant the pressure to do the surgery was high. The pair of surgeons worked simultaneously on the patient, with Cellan working on removing the cancerous tumour from her jaw and Drazsen working on the bone in her leg. This managed to reduce the time of the surgery, although it still took over 9 hours, with over 4 hours to just do the first half of the operation. When the surgeons phoned Marie's husband Roger to let him know the good news that she was out of surgery, he broke down in tears after a long day waiting for the results. Cellan said: 'He broke down in tears, bless him, it's been a difficult day for him. He's been worrying, waiting for that phone call all day, and then all the emotion comes out in the end. She's got a huge family and they want her home, and that's what we want for her.' A week after her surgery, Marie said: 'I didn't talk for five days, it is not a very pleasant operation mind. Saved my life didn't it. Go to the dentist, just as well I went isn't it.' Before the operation, her surgical team had many concerns about whether or not she'd be able to survive such a complex surgery. Cellan said: " She has done remarkably well. She's been incredibly strong, stronger than I think that realised she was. The journey doesn't stop for her, what we want is for this cancer not to come back.' The surgeon told her how important it was for her to not start smoking again once she left the hospital to which she replied: 'I will never ever.' The week without his wife, Roger had really struggled. He said: "Terrible, been crying all the time, but hopefully now there's light at the end of the tunnel. "When I saw her after the operation, I didn't think she'd pull through. Now look at her, she's walking up and down the corridor. Absolutely marvellous." Drazsen said: "Even though we have limited resources and challenges in the NHS, we get up and do our job because we can still help people." Article continues below
Wales Online
12-05-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
Saving Lives Cardiff - The moment a three-year-old girl hears properly for the first time after life changing procedure
Saving Lives Cardiff - The moment a three-year-old girl hears properly for the first time after life changing procedure Phoebe, received a cochlear implants to improve her hearing loss, as well as her speech and language development. Phoebe's first time hearing when her cochlear implants are switched on (Image: BBC/Label1/Fremantle ) Every year the children's hospital Noah's Ark in the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff treats 300 babies and children with hearing issues. The Ear, Nose and Throat department receives funding for 20 cochlear implants a year to help children with hearing loss have a better quality of life. In the fly-on-the-wall BBC series, Saving Lives in Cardiff we see the department take on the case of Phoebe, a three-year-old girl who has severe hearing loss. She was lucky to be accepted for the device and later reach the top of the waiting list which at the time of recording was around 873. Surgeon, Andy Hall is one of only three consultants in the hospital who can fit these life changing devices and he must do so around urgent and other pre planned operations on his growing waiting list. Stay informed on the latest health news by signing up to our newsletter here . The small electronic device is placed on the surface of the skull and allows those with profound hearing loss to access sound through the nerves in their brain. Phoebe suffered with severe to profound hearing loss and relied on hearing aids to amplify sounds. However, her parents noticed that her hearing had significantly reduced. Her dad, Lee said: "Her hearing is around 5-10% with hearing aids at the moment, without them very little. With as much hearing as she had, it sometimes can be difficult, sometimes we have to tap her on the shoulder, but seeing her frustrated is upsetting.' Her mother, Chelsea added: "I just get stressed so much that I can't help her in the way she needs it." Article continues below The young girl has three siblings, including her sister Alesha who also suffers from hearing loss and had cochlear implants fitted just two years before Phoebe. Their parents were able to see an improvement in Alesha's hearing and speech since having cochlear implants and they wanted Phoebe to have the same procedure before starting school. Chelsea said: "I just want her to benefit like Alesha, Alesha's come on fabulous." Lee added: "We just can't wait for her to have them, because then there's no struggle for her anymore." Phoebe's sister, explained her positive experience with the implants. She said: "When I put my implants in I was like I can hear something now, it was really fun. The hearing aids weren't that good and it was hard to put them in. But the cochlear implants are way easier. I do want Phoebe to have cochlear implants because the hearing aids are not helping." In order to decide who is suitable to receive cochlear implants, Andy and the Ear Nose and Throat department work with a variety of different teams. This includes speech and language therapists, teachers of the deaf, paediatricians, they also perform assessments and meet the child and their family to make sure what is right for them. After several appointments looking into Phoebe's hearing loss, the hospital offered her the opportunity to have a cochlear implant fitted. Her father said: "Phoebe having cochlears is going to change her life, 100%. She'll have speech again." The surgeon explained: "What we've seen recently is a significant drop in her hearing, she is really starting to struggle with speech and language development despite the best available hearing aids." After reaching the top of the waiting list, Phoebe was finally ready to have her cochlear implant fitted. Her father said: 'It breaks your heart, it is horrible when she gets so frustrated because she can't hear. This operation will change her life for the better hopefully if all goes well.' The surgeon then inserted two cochlear implants, one in each ear, this then would turn sounds into electrical signals that then travel to the brain through the hearing nerve and are then recognised as sound. After the wounds healed two weeks post surgery, Phoebe and her family returned to the hospital to check to see if they were working. At first it was overwhelming for Phoebe and she became emotional, having heard properly for the first time. However, this means that she was hearing sounds and that operation was successful and working. Rehabilitation would take time, but after her initial reaction she responded well to sounds and the more she got used to it the happier she was as she laughed and played. Andy said: "It's fantastic seeing Phoebe gaining access to sounds in the way that she couldn't prior to the insertion of the implants. We know that these decisions aren't easy for parents, but being part of that journey with them and seeing how things turn out is a very rewarding part of the job." Post surgery she then had weekly rehabilitation sessions to work on her speech and language. Her father relieved, said: "It's hard to explain in words how I feel, just thankful it all worked." Article continues below
Wales Online
28-04-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
Dad Alyn was worried about the cost of glasses but finally making an appointment to see the optician saved his life
Dad Alyn was worried about the cost of glasses but finally making an appointment to see the optician saved his life Alyn's wife Sioned persuaded him to go after he had been complaining about having sore eyes for three months Alyn, with his wife Sioned who persuaded him to get an appointment with the opticians after complaining about eye problems (Image: BBC ) Dad-of-two Alyn kept putting off an optician appointment because he was worried about the cost of getting new glasses. In the end it was the 41-year-old wife Sioned who persuaded him to make the visit - and that appointment helped save his life. His emotional story was told in the latest episode of BBC show Saving Lives in Cardiff, which tells the true stories of staff and patients at the University Hospital of Wales in the Welsh capital. They tracked Alyn's progress from arriving in hospital to the surgery that helped save his life, and his vision. The documentary series followed the Cardiff dad after came to hospital alongside Sioned, and their son Ellis, after he was diagnosed with a tumour growing inside his brain and into his left eye socket, very close to the optic nerve, which is responsible for vision. The family explained that the diagnosis had come after Sioned had persuaded Alyn to go for an opticians' appointment after he started complaining about eye problems three months before. "I just kept mentioning my eyes are tired, probably from using the computer so much," he explained. "I said, Oh my left eye keeps sort of failing to adjust to the light'." Dr Amr Mohamed was responsible for Alyn's surgery to remove the brain tumour (Image: BBC ) Article continues below Sioned added: "I just thought he was being overdramatic, to be honest. Just go for the appointment at the opticians." Although Alyn explained he had been "putting it off" going for an appointment as he did not want to spend money on a new pair of glasses, he eventually did, and was later diagnosed with a "significant" tumour growing behind his left eye. "I'm under no illusion how big this is," Alyn said. "This is huge. Probably said, biggest moment in my life so far, really." Neurosurgeon Amr Mohamed was responsible for Alyn's operation and rescheduled his list so that Alyn could get his operation as soon as possible. Sioned reflected: "It's quite daunting isn't it?" Alyn added: "It's the fear. Yeah, it's the fear of not knowing the after. I'm glad I've found it because Sioned made me go to the opticians." She added: "I wasn't really expecting this kind of outcome. I literally thought they'd give him a new pair of glasses and that would be it. It was just lucky that we did go." As Amr Mohamed explained, it would be a "big surgery" for Alyn. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . As the neurosurgeon would be working in limited space, the optic nerve was at risk by the operation, meaning blindness could be a risk. Alyn revealed that this was his "biggest fear". "I'll do my best for you to keep your vision, absolutely," Dr Mohamed said. A visibly emotional Alyn revealed he was feeling "scared". Alyn became visibly upset after he was told there was a risk he would become blind following the operation (Image: BBC ) After Dr Mohamed had spoken to the family, he said that seeing Alyn's wife and son with him became his motivation to do a "good job". When Alyn came round following the long surgery, he instantly remembered Dr Amr, his neurosurgeon. With a beam of light, Amr tested Alyn's eyesight, who confirmed he was able to see the light and move his left eye. Six weeks after removing the brain tumour, Alyn had returned to see Dr Amr Mohamed and to find out the results of the biopsies taken during the surgery. The neurosurgeon was able to confirm that the tumour was benign. "I'm a terrible worrier," Alyn told Dr Amr. "And you've kept me confident that this is all going to go okay in the end, and it has. So yeah, I'm really pleased, thank you very much." Reflecting after the appointment with the neurosurgeon, an emotional Alyn said: "It's been a horrible few months. Just can't wait to put it all behind me. It's been tough. I'm just looking forward to having some fun now." Article continues below Saving Lives in Cardiff continues on BBC One Wales at 9pm on Monday, May 5.
North Wales Live
21-04-2025
- Health
- North Wales Live
Welsh teacher who felt 'hideous' tells surgeon 'don't blame yourself' after risky facial surgery
BBC show Saving Lives in Cardiff tells the true stories of staff and patients at the University Hospital of Wales in the Welsh capital. One 59-year-old former primary school teacher, Ceri, was very emotional after her life-altering facial surgery and told her surgeon "I don't want you to feel bad". Ceri has a rare neurological condition which frequently causes one side of her face to suddenly and involuntarily go into spasm and contract. She first suffered symptoms of the condition, called hemifacial spasm, while working as a primary school teacher. The spasms can be painful, have severely impacted her confidence and mental health and meant giving up a job she loved. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter. Ceri admitted that she struggled to leave the house since the spasms started again, having already had one operation five years ago. Talking from her garden, Ceri said: "For the last five years I've probably spent half my life out here. I just want to hide, all the time. I just, I feel hideous. It takes away my confidence, it's taken me away as a person. I feel like an empty shell at times." Ceri knew that the operation to hopefully help the spasms did not come without risks, having slightly lost some of her hearing in the first operation. Speaking about it, she said: "Whereas people have life-threatening conditions, to me this a life-limiting condition... to have this surgery is going to give me my life back... I know the risks and I'm prepared to take those risks. "If I don't give it a shot, then I'll never know. At least I can say that I've tried and you've done your best and to me, that means a lot." Doctor George Eralil, who operated on Ceri, detailed the risks before the surgery and said: "Each of these risks can be life-changing in itself, should they happen. Whether it be hearing loss or whether it is facial paralysis or whether it's a stroke, there are so many things." After the surgery, Ceri became deaf in her right ear and the right side of her face was paralysed. She also had a small stroke that was provoked during surgery, which caused the hearing loss and paralysis. Doctor George described these effects as "disappointing" and Ceri became emotional when Doctor George explained what happened. Hearing that she had had a stroke, Ceri revealed that she knew the risks. Talking to Doctor George, she said: "I was aware of that... to me the hearing is secondary, I don't want you to feel bad. "I am eternally grateful for you taking this chance." before hugging Doctor George. Talking about Ceri's reaction, Doctor George said: "I was expecting her to be more pessimistic but this is an amazing woman. "She's come through quite a lot, I was not expecting that response at all. That goes to show the kind of metal that she is made of and I think that is what will get her through." Saving Lives in Cardiff continues on BBC One Wales at 9pm on Monday, April 21.
