A mum who thought she was tired because of her children was shocked when she was diagnosed with a rare heart condition.
Vicky Waite, 43, found herself feeling breathless and tired after climbing a single flight of stairs or cleaning the house.
However she was shocked when doctors discovered she had Scimitar Syndrome, a rare congenital condition in which a vein from the right lung is abnormally connected to the heart.
If ignored it can cause an overload and enlargement and in time lead to heart failure.
Emma Clements, 29, from Wetherby, had the same condition as Vicky and surgeons at Leeds Children’s Hospital performed scimitar syndrome repairs on them both using a surgical procedure never-before performed in the UK.
After surgery lasting between six and eight hours, both Vicky and Emma were discharged within a week and are recovering well at home, Leeds Live reported.
Mum of two Vicky said: “It was a bit unnerving and scary but I had confidence in Mr Pelella and it was really reassuring that Mr Lugones could be there to supervise the operation.
“It wasn’t like meeting two surgeons, it was like making two new friends.
"I’m looking forward to being able to go to the beach, play football with my kids without getting out of breath, just do normal things without having to take a million breaks."
Four weeks after the operation Vicky already had a better appetite, was sleeping better and a post-operative scan showed the right side of her heart had already dramatically reduced in size.
Speaking after her surgery, Emma said: "I can’t thank Dr Pelella and his colleagues enough for being so committed and finding the best outcome for me.
“Despite the procedure being so new he made me feel so relaxed, he was there every day checking I was OK.
"Before surgery my heart might not have been strong enough to cope with a pregnancy. Our prospects for starting a family are now so much more positive – thanks to this procedure."
Emma and her fiancé have now rescheduled their wedding for 2025 having postponed it pending Emma’s surgery.
Colin Holton, clinical director at Leeds Children’s Hospital, said: "I’m extremely proud of the team who have brought this innovative procedure to Leeds in a UK first.
“Our Congenital Cardiac Team are well known for leading the field and pushing the boundaries when it comes to surgical interventions.
“It’s great to know children and adults have a world class service on their doorstep here in Leeds."
