After the tooing and frooing of getting a date, time and place that was suitable for everyone I shouldn’t of worried as everyone turned up and there was 13 of us in the end.
There were several of us who had been saved by our partners and it was a great opportunity for them to chat about what they had been through, especially as the actual event itself is probably more traumatic for them.
After our first meet-up in February 2015, I realised I was not alone. It was the first time since my cardiac arrest the previous year that I had spoken face-to-face with someone who had experienced what I had. This was also true for my wife, who also happened to be my lifesaver. From that meet-up, the idea of SCA UK was born. Since then, we have achieved a considerable amount, primarily providing information, resources and support to others in a similar situation but also raising the profile of survivorship and the need for better post-discharge care. We are starting to get traction in this, and with the formation of the charity, I genuinely believe we have a bright future ahead and will make a significant difference in the lives of many who join our ranks.