Moorlands man on television in critical condition

By timesecholife on in All News, Featured News

GARY Ross thought he had simply pulled a muscle after suffering from chest pain for three days but once seen by the life-saving staff at Royal Stoke University Hospital he was told he needed urgent surgery or faced the risk of dying. The father-of-one, who lives in Tean, was transferred to the hospital's Coronary Care Unit where life-saving scans and tests revealed his aorta, the main artery in the body, had torn. He then had urgent surgery to prevent a catastrophic rupture and any further bleeding.

His life-saving story will feature in tonights Channel 5’s ground-breaking documentary ‘Critical Condition’.

The documentary follows the staff and patients at Royal Stoke University Hospital as they confront the realities of delivering immediate life-saving care.

Gary said: “I had been in Belfast for a few days and had picked up a bit of a tummy bug and as I was getting over that I started to feel that every time I lay down someone was sitting on my chest.

“I thought it was all connected. I left it three days before calling 111, I just thought I’d pulled a muscle or something so was quite shocked when they sent an ambulance immediately.

“Once I got to hospital I had a few quick checks before being admitted to the Coronary Care Unit and within about 10 minutes of having a full scan they were down telling me I needed heart surgery almost immediately.”

The 49-year-old required urgent surgery to prevent a catastrophic rupture and any further bleeding. The NHS state that one-in-four people don’t survive such an operation.

With every minute making a difference, Gary had to make an instant decision whether to go ahead and say goodbye to his family before going to theatre.

He was told by medical staff: “The risk of you dying is actually pretty large.

“We are talking probably in the 20 to 25 per cents, but we have to weigh up the risks and benefits really and potentially the longer we leave this per say there is a chance this thing may rupture completely, and if that happens you won’t survive.”

Gary said: “Everything changed straight away with a real sense of urgency but at the time I had no worries about it all.

“I knew it wasn’t my time so I said goodbye to my Dad and my boy with no worries at all.

“They took me down to surgery and I woke up nine hours later, the following two days are a bit of a blur but I was discharged three days after the operation.

“I am still having rehab so it is slow going but I am getting there.”

Richard Warwick, consultant cardiologist, who performed the life-saving procedure said: “We very seldom have emergencies when it comes to heart operations but having an aortic dissection is one of those rare occasions when it falls into this emergency bracket.”

No stranger to the emergency department at RSUH, Gary has been involved in a number of bike accidents and has 13 pins in his arms and legs.

He said: “Compared to the surgery I have received following bike accidents, this has been the most painless and easy to recover from.

“I can’t thank the doctors and nurses enough for the care I have been given.”

Channel 5’s documentary ‘Critical Condition’, featuring Gary, was aired on Wednesday, March 20 at 9pm.

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