Recovery Grounded in Routine and Resolve

Mr Zafrullah works in online media — a profession that keeps him mostly deskbound, except during business travel or occasional rounds of golf.

Physically, he felt fine. His last polyclinic check-up showed no major concerns. Blood pressure was normal. Life, as far as he could tell, was stable.

Then one evening at dinner with his wife and friends, he felt a vague discomfort. No sharp chest pain. Just something off. His heart rate was climbing — not alarmingly, but noticeably. He tried to manage it—resting, sipping warm water — but by 4am, with no improvement, he took a Grab to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

There, he learned he had suffered a mild heart attack. The news came as a shock. Just a month earlier, he had been given a clean bill of health. He hadn’t seen this coming. Neither had his wife.

After surgery, he began hospital-based physiotherapy, followed by a referral to the Singapore Heart Foundation’s Heart Wellness Centre (HWC) at Bishan Junction 8. He agreed to join — not just for medical reasons, but because he needed structure. He wanted accountability.

The programme delivered that. Each week, he followed a customised rehabilitation routine, monitored his blood pressure and tracked his progress. But the real value came from the human connection. The HWC team knew him by name. He could speak with physiotherapists even outside of scheduled sessions. This access helped him stay engaged and informed.

He acknowledges he is not naturally self-disciplined. His work is solitary and screen heavy. The weekly sessions gave him more than exercise — they gave him community. Familiar faces, real conversations, shared encouragement. That became part of his recovery too.

What kept him going was not just recovery — it was the life he wanted to return to. He enjoys golf and travel. Staying healthy means holding on to those. That vision has grounded him. It has helped him make difficult changes — quit smoking, cut out alcohol, break habits he has long allowed to stay. His transformation wasn’t dramatic, but it was consistent. There were small, deliberate choices to preserve what mattered.

To the HWC team, Zaf extends sincere thanks. From the start, they offered clarity — explaining procedures, interpreting test results and walking him through changes. There was patience, and there was precision. Even when he dropped in unannounced, they welcomed him. That sense of openness built trust. It helped him believe he wasn’t alone in the process of recovery.

To him, a resilient heart is not just about surviving a medical emergency. It’s about what comes after — staying present, staying consistent and recognising that health impacts not just ourselves, but the people who depend on us.

As the Singapore Heart Foundation marks 55 years, Zaf offers his congratulations. He hopes others find the same care and community that have helped him rebuild his life. His message is clear: “Keep staying healthy and strong. Whatever happens to us will affect our family and loved ones. Let’s not take that lightly.”

Find out more about the Heart Wellness Programme.