hearty tales

sharing stories of chronic heart disease

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Author: Laura

I'm an English Literature/Medical Humanities PhD student at the University of Glasgow, looking at written representations of chronic heart disease, 1980-present. Here I'll be blogging informally about my project's progress, sharing my responses to what I've been reading and doing and thinking. I've been living with heart failure since 2011, so I'll probably write now and again about what that's like. Eventually I hope some of the blog's readers will share their stories here too!
November 8, 2021 Laura

A decade on from diagnosis

October 27, 2021October 27, 2021 Laura

My heart

October 25, 2021 Laura

High-maintenance heart hindering haiku (but not affecting alliterative abilities!)

October 6, 2021 Laura

The Curious Case of the Cardiac Consuming Cat

October 1, 2021September 30, 2021 Laura

Heart Haiku issue 10: Our Hearts and…Animals!

September 29, 2021 Laura

Happy World Heart Day 2021

September 27, 2021September 27, 2021 Laura

Tech-horror tropes: putting the “org” in “cyborg”

September 24, 2021September 23, 2021 Laura

Your pacemaker – silent witness or supergrass?

September 22, 2021September 22, 2021 Laura

Some pictures paint…641 words?

September 9, 2021 Laura

Issue 9 of the zine is here!

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Just dropping by to explain my recent absence and to let you know that I won’t be posting here or on the blog for the next few months, probably, as I take some extended sick leave. I received my heart transplant on Nov 11th and am still in hospital, having experienced acute rejection very early on. The new heart is now doing great (can’t believe how different to my old heart it looks on scans) but a full month lying flat on my back in intensive care has robbed me of muscles and mobility, plus I’m struggling with side effects of medication. Things have definitely started to improve though so hopefully I’m at the beginning of the home stretch 🤞🏼 Anyway, things will be quiet on Hearty Tales while I concentrate on my recovery but I am trying to post on my personal account @laura_dropstitch and you would be very welcome to follow me there if you want to stay in the loop in the meantime. Looking forward to getting back to my project as soon as brain and body allow. #HeartTransplant
Ten. 10. X.
Just a quick post to say I’m taking a couple of months (at least) off from my research project but I will be posting transplant progress (and life in general) on my personal account @laura_dropstitch so feel free to follow me there if you want to stay in the loop. Just finding it hard to maintain the balance between professional and personal when posting on this account for the time being.
Looooong niiiiiiiight. Yesterday I officially joined the transplant list. Picture me, walking my daughter home from school, getting a call on my mobile and hearing the words, “You do need to prepare yourself for the fact the call could come as early as this weekend.” How is anybody meant to sleep in this situation? I’m not ready! I’m still not even convinced it’s the best idea! I ordered new hospital pyjamas and won’t even get them until Sunday 🤦🏻‍♀️ And my heart is being stupid tonight and every time I do drift off I wake up with horrible pins and needles and then lie here listening to my pacemaker puffing air out of my nose with a little whistle. I was doing so much better yesterday - almost on track for a day without tears at one point. I can’t find what I need to pack in my bag and I can’t work out the practicalities of what to do when the call comes, like what do I do with my daughter if I want my husband to come with me? Eight days ago I was so chuffed about a job offer and an interview and now I’ve withdrawn myself from both. A nurse claimed I couldn’t really say things were moving too quickly when I’ve had heart failure for ten years, but…things are moving too quickly. I’m kissing the cat while I still can. How does anybody sleep in this situation? #HeartTransplant #SleeplessInGlasgow #worry

Hearty Blogs and Resources

  • Sarah Is Old At Heart
  • The Healing of Life
  • Me and my CHD
  • International Heart Spasms Alliance
  • Heart of a Giant
  • Sudden Cardiac Arrest UK
  • Reflections of a Bear
  • Optimistic Heart
  • The Shape Of My Heart
  • Ootastic
  • Heart Sisters
  • The Heart of the Journey

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anatomy cardiac devices cardiology collaboration communication creative writing creativity cyborgs embroidery family haiku have your say heart history me/personal pacemakers patient experience symptoms visual art zine
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