'˜I nearly lost my life a year ago '“ I was lucky to survive' - Fiona's thanks to life-savers

Fiona Mills said she owed her life to the staff of the Lancashire Cardiac Centre which is based at the hospital.

Visitors to the hospital and the cardiac centre saw red on Friday, as Fiona and her fellow volunteers took part in a special event in aid of the Heart of Gold Charitable Fund run by Blue Skies Hospitals Fund.

Fiona, 60, from Cleveleys, said: “I nearly lost my life a year ago – I was lucky to survive.”

Fiona, who works in Debenhams in Blackpool, had a heart attack seven years ago. Her heart problems were partly hereditary and partly to do with her unhealthy lifestyle.

When she became ill again a year ago it was potentially fatal. “The staff at the cardiac centre told me that if I’d been at home I would not have survived,” she explained.

“Luckily I was in hospital receiving treatment when my condition deteriorated.

“I started to get chest pains and they got me into the cardiac centre. My arteries were 95 per cent closed up.

“The cardiac team stepped in and that was it. They were amazing. They really looked after me

“I decided to completely turn my life around. When you are in that situation something kicks your brain into thinking, ‘I need to sort myself out’.

“I lost three stones and I live a very healthy lifestyle now. I don’t smoke and I don’t drink. I feel so much better now. My mind is focused whereas I always used to be tired.”

Fiona was so delighted with her care that she is now a Volunteer Health Mentor for the Trust.

She said: “We go up to the cardiac centre and talk to patients about healthier lifestyles. We have a trolley that is full of information.

“I’ve realised that I’m here for a reason and that is to help people to improve their health.

“My experiences have made me determined to be a better person and to help others.” Chris Thornley, 66, a retired civil servant from Kirkham, also became a Health Mentor after his treatment at the cardiac centre more than two years ago.

He said: “My heart arrested six times in four days. The staff saved my life and this is one way I can thank them.

“They were brilliant. They were like friends and family to me. We had a wonderful rapport and my surgery was successful. They really helped me and they still are helping me.”

The Wear It Red event was a joint effort by Blackpool Teaching Hospitals’ Public Health team, the Trust’s Volunteer Health Mentors and Blue Skies Hospitals Fund.

There was a cake sale at the entrance to the Cardiac Centre and on the hospital’s mezzanine.

Staff members and volunteers baked cakes for the event and collected donations.

Rebecca Ferguson, deputy head of Fund-raising for Blue Skies Hospitals Fund, said: “We would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to everyone who helped to raise money for the Heart of Gold Charitable Fund.

“The money raised will benefit heart patients from Lancashire and Cumbria and we are looking forward to finding out what the final total is.”