Patient stories
"I was taken to The Alfred because it was the only place that could save my life." and "The Alfred saved my life.” A common thread amongst many of our past patients. Read or watch stories from our patients.
Miracles at Christmas: Rupika’s story
When 38-year-old mother of two Rupika Chopra came to The Alfred’s emergency department in August with a sore neck, she could never have predicted the eight weeks to follow.
What started as an innocuous pain quickly became a life-threatening and highly complex cardiac condition for the Melbourne woman, who over the coming weeks would go into cardiac arrest seven times and be placed on life support.
Both Rupika and her husband Yogesh say it was their faith – both in a higher god and in modern medicine – that kept the mother of two alive.
Read moreMichael's story
Read about Michael's experience with Atrial Fibrallation and Catheter Ablation.
Read his story
Carmen's story
“This doesn’t happen to people like me.” Carmen, aged 50
“I was fit and energetic, always on-the-go. I ate well and exercised. I never thought I would need The Alfred. But unknowingly I contracted a heart condition called idiopathic giant-cell myocarditis, which is caused by a virus. It took hold really quickly and it soon became clear I needed medical help. By the time I was rushed to The Alfred, my heart had swollen to three times its size. I literally had seconds to live. I couldn’t believe what was happening. I thought, ‘This just doesn’t happen to people like me’. The Alfred saved my life.”
Fraser's story
“I didn’t need a heart transplant but I was close.” Fraser, aged 27
“I thought I had a bout of tonsillitis, then I started having difficulty breathing. My condition got much worse. I was taken to The Alfred because it was the only place that could save my life. I had several cardiac arrests – my heart just stopped working. Thanks to The Alfred, I didn’t die. I’ve had to adjust my lifestyle and be a lot more cautious about my health. I can’t be as spontaneous as I used to be. But I feel lucky. I’m alive.”
Alan's story
“I went to my kayak race thinking, I don’t feel right for this.” Alan, aged 72
“I’m used to leading a very active life. It’s a good thing I’m retired – work would just get in the way of my pursuits. I’m a keen kayaker and the first I knew of my heart problem was in the run-up to a race. With hindsight, I see something had been up for a few days but I went to it thinking, ‘I really don’t feel right for this’. Luckily I finished the contest. The next day, I was at home and I came over all funny, fell off my chair and hit my head on the piano. I didn’t know it then but my brain had stopped sending signals to my heart. After arriving by ambulance at The Alfred, I was given emergency care and then later I was fitted with a pacemaker. Today, I’m thankful I went to hospital before it was too late. Thanks to The Alfred, I’ve been given an extension to my life.”
