Jodie’s Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) story
My Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Story Hi, my name is Jodie. I am 35 years old. I am a Disability Support Worker and qualified Teachers Aide. I love my family, volunteering with the State Emergency Service, all animals; especially working with horses; and was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome (part of the autism spectrum disorder) when I was […]
Dino’s Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) story
My Journey with Dilated Cardiomyopathy Hi, my name is Dino, and I’m from Adelaide. I’m 51 years old, and was diagnosed with Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy in 2024. This is my story. Early Symptoms and Diagnosis In early 2024, I started noticing shortness of breath during everyday activities. Sometimes it happened while digging in the garden, other times while sitting at my desk or even just […]
Leo’s Amyloid Cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) story
Leo’s Story – Living with ATTR Wild-Type Amyloidosis Hi, my name is Leo and I am living with ATTR wild-type amyloidosis. It is a rare disease where abnormal proteins called amyloid build up in organs and tissues, affecting how they function. In my case it has affected my heart and the nerves in my carpal […]
Jessie’s Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) story
Hello! My name is Jessie and I have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. What led to your diagnosis? What has happened since then? Growing up, I was very active and played a lot of sports. At 15, I began experiencing shortness of breath and nearly fainted during a hockey game. Despite insisting I was fine, my parents took […]
Miranda’s Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) story
I was 21 when I was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy DCM. I was breathless, was putting in fluid weight, and was struggling to walk in a flat surface. My father had passed away from the same illness when he was 31 years old. Naturally I was especially worried I was on the same path. Luckily […]
Mel’s Takotsubo cardiomyopathy story
Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy often begins with an intense emotional event but I call my experience ‘a perfect storm’. I was a single mum, working full time from home, managing an extreme health condition, and doing a bachelor degree in social work at night. My ‘trigger’ for my event was my boss asking me how I was, […]
Chloe’s Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) story
My name is Chloe, I am a 38-year-old mum, wife, step-mum, aunty, dog mum, and small business owner. When I was 27, I was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM – non-obstructive). What led to your diagnosis? What has happened since then? At the time I was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), I was running a […]
Dianne’s Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) story
Hello. My name is Dianne, and I live in Ipswich, Queensland. I was diagnosed with Idiopathic Left Ventricular Cardiomyopathy in 2018. What led to your diagnosis? What has happened since then? I was waking each morning with a wheezy chest. This led to a doctor’s appointment and subsequent chest x-ray, which revealed dilation of my […]
Ray’s Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) story
Hi I’m Ray. I was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy in 2008, aged 66. My wife and I have two children and 4 grandchildren, and for years, with our son, we have been restoring our terrace house in Melbourne and a run-down cottage in the country. Prior to my diagnosis, my wife and I ran tours […]
Sue’s Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) story
My name is Sue, I am 76 and have one daughter and 3 grandchildren. I was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure 3 years ago. What led to your diagnosis? What has happened since then? At the time of diagnosis, I was strong, fit, healthy, worked out and walked most days. I was short […]