Couple of over 50 years undergo same life-saving surgery days apart at Royal Stoke
A married couple of over 50 years both had the same life-saving heart surgery within a week of each other in Stoke-on-Trent.
Donald Curzon, 86, and partner Joan Curzon, 77, both needed surgery to have a transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) fitted - which improves the blood flow by replacing a valve that doesn't open fully.
Joan had the surgery at the Royal Stoke University Hospital first so she was able to visit Donald, her husband of 56 years, after he had his operation.
The couple have said that their hospital admissions were their first time apart in years, but are glad they had the surgeries as it "all turned out very well."
Joan said: "It was very worrying. We've been married for such a long time, and it was our first time apart for so long, but it all turned out very well.
"It was while I was an inpatient at Royal Stoke that staff knew Donald was having his TAVI, so they kindly fetched me down from the ward and I sat with him for 45 minutes after his procedure."
Joan, a retired childcare worker, started suffering from heart failure and was told that she would need a TAVI and a permanent pacemaker fitted.
Donald also then become unwell and following tests and scans, he was also told he needed a TAVI.
Joan said: "I was suffering from heart failure, and required two procedures, a TAVI then a permanent pacemaker fitted.
"It was around the same time that Donald became unwell, and following tests and scans he was told he also needed a TAVI."
Donald, a former salt miner, originally thought that he would need a pacemaker but was then told that he actually needed a TAVI.
He said that the "procedure has gone fine" and that the couple are now recovering at their home in Winsford, Cheshire.
Donald said: "It was originally thought I'd need a pacemaker, but following further tests and scans I was told I needed a TAVI.
"I'm feeling a bit sore, but the procedure has gone fine."
Joan has now praised the "marvellous" staff at the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM), which run the hospital.
She said: "I can't praise the staff enough, they were marvellous. The attention they gave you, nothing was too much trouble, you only needed to ask, and they were there.
"They looked after us really well. It was special we were able to see each other and it definitely aided our recovery."
Dr Karim Ratib, a consultant cardiologist who carried out both procedures, said: "Donald and Joan's procedure involved replacing a narrowed aortic valve with a new one that is inserted via the femoral artery whilst they were awake.
"These procedures should improve their symptoms of breathlessness and improve their prognosis significantly. Whilst a TAVI procedure is common at UHNM, it's very unusual to treat a husband and wife and even less so, during the same week.
"Their procedures went well and they are both relieved to have been treated and are enjoying their time at home together."
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