This is a far more personal post than I would usually publish.
I ceased being a councillor on the 7th May 2026.
On the 11th May 2026, in pouring rain, I attended a routine CT scan in an Altrincham car park primarily focused on my lungs as an ex smoker.
My lungs are fine, but the CT scan had highlighted deterioration in my heart valve and they were recommending further investigation.
It wasn’t a total surprise.
I had had previous; a heart attack requiring a stent three years ago. Whilst the valve wasn’t involved, it was identified as a potential future problem. It may even have been there in childhood, I remember attending Park Hospital over a heart murmur. So I sort of knew this was coming.
Nevertheless, whilst my times had declined over the previous 12 months I was still running parkruns until April this year. Perhaps more pertinently my bike was still my main mode of transport and most of my consequent journeys to Wythenshawe hospital have been by bike.
So, for a 68 year old bloke, I could make the case for being reasonably fit. I wasn’t being told I was about to die.
Yet, I was being told I’d benefit from an operation that involved extreme discomfort and no small amount of pain. My view was simple, the probable gains were absolutely worth the pain.
It’s been a long journey. It’s involved countless trips to Wythenshawe hospital for x-rays, CTs, bloods, angiograms, pre-ops. It’s involved teeth extraction. There’s been last minute cancellations of the operation, but last Tuesday, we got there.
I can’t tell you about the operation (there’s an animation here if you can face it). But, coming round in the cardiothoracic critical care unit was perhaps the most surreal thing I’ve ever experienced. I was glad I asked people not to visit me there. There was about half a dozen of we patients, anaesthetised up to the eyeballs, each with our own space, it resembled a scene from Westworld. There were panics and pain. You get through it though and I was back on the main ward that evening.
I don’t know why it feels strange that the new valve has been working away from the moment it the heart was restored to life. I could feel it thumping along. Everything’s recovering well. You lose a lot of upper-body strength during the op and for the first few days, I couldn’t sit up without assistance. I was like an upturned turtle, but you soon build it up. I was discharged on Sunday. I sometimes overdo it, so I was a bit sore after overfilling a bag at Asda, but it’s just muscle pain and I’ll get there.
I’m not allowed to drive and I’m not allowed to ride my bike yet, but I’m loving using the bus to get about. I’m going to need it next week as it’s the start of all the post discharge check-ups.
I start official cardio rehab on the 29th, but in reality, it’s already started. Psycho-killer was playing just now and there’s no way to avoid at least the most rudimentary dance. I’m getting there.
Bless the NHS. I’m so pleased they were there for me.
I have a target. It’s a sub 40 parkrun – that would put me back in Spring 2025. So, it’s not too far out of reach. We’ll see.
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