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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …