A Journey of Struggle and Strength

At 73, Rosalind was still leading a normal life with little complications. That was until she collapsed in church, an event she did not expect.

Fortunately, her fellow churchgoers were well-prepared for an emergency, ready to save her life. A team of retired nurses performed CPR on her; they were resilient throughout the experience. “They said it was very tiring and difficult,” she recalled.

She was in a coma for six days following the incident, and learnt that she had suffered a cardiac arrest.

Life has not been easy for Rosalind since then. She has had to undergo a myriad of changes. Now, she has an implantable-cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), which monitors her heartbeat and is activated when irregular heart rhythm is detected.

She suspects there is a variety of reasons behind her cardiac arrest; for instance, it could be the diabetes medication she was taking at that point in time. Still, she is not certain why it happened.

Driving, social drinking and playing golf are some of the activities that Rosalind misses. Since her cardiac arrest, she has felt increasingly low-spirited. “Being healthy is very difficult,” she laments as she lists what she has been struggling with.

Her physiotherapist advised her to walk 150 minutes a week, but she has stopped after a while because she finds it difficult to keep going. “Since I am diabetic, I have to be extra careful with what I eat,” she adds, and she shares that she has trouble maintaining a strict diet.

Despite all the setbacks, Rosalind is determined to stay healthy. She appreciates how important it is, especially as she is living with her husband who has been bedridden since suffering a stroke 12 years ago. “I don’t want to be in that condition, to have my children look after me the way I am looking after him,” she explains.

Having a heart condition can sometimes be isolating, which is why Rosalind has decided to join the Cardiac Arrest Survivors’ Club activity – an art workshop – on 15 Feb 2025. Her friends encouraged her, stressing that she could meet other cardiac arrest survivors there.

She realises that it is a good avenue to ask questions and clarify any doubt she has about her physical conditions. Most importantly, it provides her a safe space.

Remember: you are not alone. If you are a cardiac arrest survivor wanting to meet people like yourself, you are at the right place. Join the Cardiac Arrest Survivors Club here today.