A Norwich woman is supporting a fundraiser for a machine for the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) which would have diagnosed her life-threatening condition years earlier.
Anthea Barry, 75, of Thorpe End, was in Greece in 2016 when three tumours were discovered on her heart - stranding her abroad until she had surgery and could safely return home.
A few years before however she had had some minor problems and was given the all-clear following three echocardiograms (ECGs).
And it wasn't until the issue resurfaced that the three tumours - myxomas, covering both chambers of her heart - were found causing a significant strain.
Although non-cancerous, they are still life-threatening if they interfere with heart function.
Her consultants say that her abnormalities would have been flagged earlier with a cardiac-specific MRI machine.
To save her life, surgeons in Greece - Anthea explained - removed and reconstructed her sternum and sliced her heart in half diagonally to remove the tumours.
"My condition was absolutely life-threatening," she explained.
"Blood was returning to my heart. It's a rare thing, but it could've sent blood to my brain.
"I didn't even know my condition existed.
"The tumours were troublesome and dangerous."
Norfolk Heart Trust says that more than half the population will suffer from circulatory or heart problems in their lifetime.
The trust, now part of the Norfolk Community Foundation, is running the Miracle Magnets for Hearts (MM4H) campaign to make the idea of a cardiac MRI machine at the NNUH a reality.
Inspired by seeing a poster for the campaign in her cardiology consultant's office, Anthea has run her own events for the cause, adding £1,300 to the existing total.
"I feel it's my duty to raise funds for people of Norfolk, Suffolk and beyond who need the machine.
"I believe there isn’t a family or person that has not been touched or known someone who has had heart problems. And you often don't know you need it until the crucial time that you do.
"This machine is so important to so many people.
"There are obviously long waiting lists for scans but not everyone can afford to go - in ways of health and money.
"And it's a big thing to travel when you're unwell.
"We have wonderful people in our hospital who are hoping to achieve this - and for us."
So far, the overall campaign has raised more than £270,000 of the £1.5 million needed to fund the MRI machine - which is hoped to be installed at the NNUH before Christmas.
Julie Cooper, head of grants for the Norfolk and Norwich Hospitals Charity, said: "We are really excited to be working with the Norfolk Heart Trust to raise funds to purchase a dedicated cardiac MRI scanner.
"This will provide additional specialist scanning equipment and facilities within our region to bring significant benefits to our patients, some of whom have to travel to London for this level of diagnostic imaging."
Jonathan Ellis, advisor at Norfolk Heart Trust, added: "The MRI scanner is capable of diagnosing heart disease more accurately than x-ray tests or tubes inside the heart, completely changing how we can treat patients.
"Such a machine reduces the need for some risky and high-cost invasive alternatives.
"There is a need for a dedicated heart MRI in Norfolk region, with patients currently travelling out of Norfolk for scans and faced with long waiting lists.
"Heart MRI is vital for high-quality research in heart disease and will improve patient care and experience, enabling early diagnosis of heart disease to save lives.
"If the cardiology department has its own machine it will more than treble its capacity"
Norfolk Community Foundation's chief executive Claire Cullens added: "We're delighted to be supporting the Miracle Magnets for Hearts appeal, ensuring the NNUH has the equipment it needs to save lives.
"The more people that support this appeal, the sooner we can get help for the thousands of people in Norfolk who suffer with heart disease every year, improving their quality of life and their chances of survival."
To contact Anthea to help fundraise for the MRI scanner, email mmchampions4hearts@gmail.com.
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