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Paul Nolan is a professional marketer, as well as a songwriter, musician and fitness enthusiast in his spare time. Here he relates a near-death experience last year in the hope of encouraging readers to be heart-aware…
THERE ARE ABOUT 3,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests every year in Ireland and, sadly, only about 6-7% of those affected survive. That I found myself on the right side of such a statistic is something for which I will always be incredibly grateful.
It was almost 8 pm on 2 December 2022 when I suffered my cardiac arrest. I was dead before I hit the ground. I felt no pain and knew nothing of the commotion that followed. My life did not flash before me. There was no ‘white light’ to which I was drawn, nor a feeling of bliss, unconditional love, peace or contentment.
I did not find myself in a ‘celestial tunnel’ meeting all of the people I had known who had passed before me. All there was was a piercing, visceral sense of blackness and terror.
I did not acquit myself with any kind of distinction academically as a young student, despite the best efforts of several talented, conscientious teachers in St Paul’s College in Raheny.
The only topic in which I had any real interest was poetry, in particular the work of Emily Dickinson. Her poem ‘Because I Could Not Stop for Death’ intrigued me for nearly 40 years, as I pondered the moment and the circumstances in which I might shuffle off my own mortal coil. I hoped it would be quick and painless… and so it proved.
Prior to this episode I had been a healthy 52-year-old, who didn’t smoke, drank only moderately and had a very good diet. I exercised regularly and had just completed the 2022 Dublin City Marathon.
Apart from my cholesterol being marginally higher than it should have been, I had received a clean bill of health from my GP only the day before all of this unfolded.
However, unbeknownst to both of us, my left anterior descending (LAD) artery was at the time almost totally blocked in two places, as was a sub-artery… those were near-perfect conditions for the occurrence of a ‘widowmaker’ heart attack… one which is almost always fatal.
My father has always subscribed to the maxim that it’s better to be born lucky than rich. For much of my life theretofore, I’m not sure I agreed with those sentiments or felt greatly blessed with either. However, I was hugely fortunate to be down in Newbridge Athletics Club on the night of 2 December 2022 when this incident occurred.
I was out on the running track with friends from the club, all of whom responded quickly and did an incredible job in terms of providing immediate CPR and shocking my heart with the defibrillator from the clubhouse. Newbridge Community First Responders and National Ambulance Service Paramedics were quickly on the scene and they too were instrumental in my resuscitation.
My understanding is that I was clinically dead for three to four minutes, and all the while clubmates worked frantically to try to revive me.
Once the first responders and paramedics were satisfied that it was safe to do so, I was taken by ambulance to Naas General Hospital where I was placed in an induced coma while tests were carried out to determine what might have happened.
On the Sunday evening, I was transferred to Blackrock Clinic and admitted with a suspected heart attack, pneumonia and an hypoxic brain injury. On the Monday I had a coronary angiogram procedure, an invasive test using X-ray dye, which determined there were serious issues with my LAD artery (the largest coronary artery which supplies blood to the heart).
That Tuesday evening, I had a coronary angioplasty which involved temporarily inserting and inflating tiny balloons in the affected sections of the narrowed artery. This was combined with the permanent placement of three small wire mesh tubes called ‘stents’ which helped to prop the artery open and decrease the chances of it narrowing again.
I was discharged a few days later and, after a very quiet Christmas at home, I began my rehabilitation. In the year or so since, with the help and support of the Naas Hospital Cardiac Rehab Team, my wife and family, friends, neighbours and work colleagues, I have made a full recovery.
As a testament to that, I was delighted to complete my fourth Dublin City Marathon this October!
However, I was very confused and angry after my cardiac arrest, and couldn’t understand how or why this had happened when I’d been taking good care of myself for many years. Weeks into my recovery, a cardiac physiotherapist explained to me that my fitness was a huge contributor to my surviving the arrest. Put plainly, she advised this would have happened 5–10 years earlier if I hadn’t been fit and there would have been no chance at all of a positive outcome.
And so I write today to offer my sincerest thanks to everyone who took care of me when I was sick. My family and I will be forever indebted to you.
It is my hope also that in telling my story here that I might be able to positively influence readers engaging in exercise to be heart-aware and also to remind people (men in particular!) of the value of regular health check-ups, both of which can greatly reduce the risk of a cardiac event.
Please take care when exercising and if involved in a very intense sport you need to be aware that you shouldn’t be exercising much beyond 80% of your maximum heart rate. If there is any history of heart disease in your family, please tell your GP and ask whether tests such as an ECG, heart stress test and angiogram might be appropriate.
My family and I have been on quite a journey over the last year and I am immensely lucky to be able to share this experience with you today. However, too many people I know think something like this could never happen to them, and may not be as fortunate as I was if it did. Please take care and be heart-aware.
Paul Nolan is a professional marketer, as well as a songwriter, musician and fitness enthusiast in his spare time.
She is a hero
I seriously have so much admiration and respect for this lady.
This story has recieved a mere 2500+ views compared to the 28,000+ attributed to the story about the shooting in the U.S!!
Makes you wonder what the people of our country think about its people!!
It’s about time this was sorted out, it’s a pity somebody had to die because of it.
Cost of repairing Priory Hall €10million approx / Government pledge to overseas aid €60 million.
Don’t think money was the issue with the state, to be fair! It was a private development that crossed paths with a public body in terms of planning. But the state can’t just write a cheque that easily and its a legal nightmare for everyone! Thankfully the saga appears to have an end in sight!
And what is the cost of going after the IRA builder who built it? Surely he should have to pay most of the 10 million euros?
the ‘ira’ builder…………get a life you troll.
He’s bankrupt. I say chuck him in jail till he pays. ..oh no wait its ireland after all
He has claimed British citizenship to qualify for bankruptcy in the UK. Bet the Sinn Fein lads didn’t like that move by this former hunger striker. You have been v silent on this one Gerry
IRA/SF builder.
I live in Roscrea Co. Tipperary and Tom McFeely built a number if houses at the end of my road which have been abandoned since he became bankrupt and are now vandalised and people are dumping on the sight. The first few to leave began dumping and by that the place became inhospitable for the rest, they all seemed to be renting and towards the end were playing rent to an English company and I think there is only a couple of windows left all have been broken. What a waste of perfectly good houses. They’ve ruined our whole estate which I used to love living in now I am disgusted every day as I drive past those houses!!
We have a harrowing history of forced evictions in Ireland. I can’t believe that we have allowed ourselves -through Government (past and present), our banks and our property developers, but also through our own lack of foresight; to see ourselves as a people in a similar position again.
The Easter Rising leaders must be turning in their graves..
Is this what we have achieved with our unfettered destinies?
This story has nothing to do with forced evictions. Agenda much?
I really would hope that people could have a bit of compassion and understanding for these innocent victims for the lack of proper regulation and standards in the Construction industry. I agree that most people are very supportive and genuinely want this to end. My Child and 88 of her Neighbours have been to Hell and back since 2007 when these apartments first opened. The “Banks” had these death traps inspected on at least 89 separate occasions and no major faults were reported. Coleport The Construction company had a CV with a massive list of failed developments yet they were left with a license to continue to construct death traps. These people were failed by our Government, the Department for the Environment, the Developers and the Banks . It really all came down to GREED & PROFITEERING. If there is any justice most of these Bastards will roast in hell. Every single one of them should be named and shamed, they all have blood on their hands.
Sad state of affairs when it takes a man to take his own life before the government gets its finger out to sort the issue.
Stephanie Meehan should be paid to attend the meeting with the Minister and all the Priory Hall parties. She should have the power to say who said what at these meetings. She is such a capable lady and could cut through the delaying tactics bullshit of all these “experts” These guys need the constant reminder that the crazy delays from all sides have ruined and cost lives.
Brave lady.
I hope KBC choke on the money
That poor woman has been through a lot I hope it is all sorted out soon for that poor woman & the rest of priory hall residents
Not only should it all have been sorted…they ‘Priory Hall Homeowners’ should now also be compensated for the distress it has caused, small comport I know.. thoughts are with you still Stephanie.
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