How do I look – inside and out? (part II)

How do I look – inside and out? (part II)

I had the most certain feeling that destiny had something else in mind for me and giving me a unique chance by surviving against all odds my acute ascending aorta dissection. I had no idea yet where I was supposed to be heading and if 

How do I look – inside and out? (part I)

How do I look – inside and out? (part I)

Before my emergency operation, after suffering from acute ascending aorta dissection, I had been told I looked 10 years younger than my 61 years. I had a positive attitude, would eat healthy foods and was fit and slim.  I had a great body, not any 

4 months after…

4 months after…

While writing these pages im my blog theheartknows, I let myself be guided by my wish to remember everything that happened, especially my feelings, the healing progress and personal experiences since the operation. I want to keep reminding myself of the changes I perceive in 

Near death and impact on my children

Near death and impact on my children

I have three lovely children, one girl and two boys, all grown up and very different in character, but independent and strong minded and I am very proud of all of them. My youngest son, who had still been in Germany visiting his father that 

Surgery

Surgery

While the decision about the hospital was another important puzzle piece in my favour, in my state, I could not have cared less and realised only when I was told after the operation how lucky I had been that I had ended up in this 

Subdued and unaware

Subdued and unaware

People sometimes remember, after having had a near death experience, what their last thoughts were or tell of having gone back in time to their childhood or seeing their whole life before them. I do not remember any of that. I did not even think 

Floating

Floating

My colleague’s faces changed from looking interested to very concerned. Suddenly, near the end of my report to my colleagues in the office, I felt something happening in my body. There was a pain I had never experienced before. It felt like a tearing in 

Out of control

Out of control

Meetings and holding presentations or reporting to groups of people are not my thing. I am basically a shy person and do not like to be in the middle of attention. I have gotten used to it over the years and by now I receive 

The event

The event

I died on Monday, 26 November at 11:30 AM. It happened in the office. This is what under normal circumstances should have happened. It is what happens in most such cases and, even though very sad, doctors usually say: “ We tried our best but 

The Swiss mountains and slow recovery

The Swiss mountains and slow recovery

I saw the Swiss Alps in January 2019 from my window during my rehabilitation in the Swiss mountains. I was sent there to help with my recovery from a sudden ascending aorta dissection. When I first arrived after a more than 2 week hospital stay