Table of Contents
- Introduction
- The Incident
- The Medical Issue
- Stress Factors
- How to Give CPR to an Adult
- Final Thoughts
COURTNEY Stocks was revived by her father after being dead for seven minutes.
The 22-year-old dog groomer experienced a cardiac arrest in her back garden, which she attributes to the stress of her job.
Courtney was just 22 when she experienced a cardiac arrestCredit: Kennedy News
Her father had to perform CPRCredit: Kennedy News
“It was quite shocking, especially since I’m only 22 and fit and healthy,” Courtney, from Derbyshire, stated.
Although she has no pre-existing health conditions, Courtney had been experiencing dizziness and light-headedness in the weeks prior to her hospitalization, but she dismissed the symptoms as minor.
Doctors informed Courtney that her cardiac arrest was likely triggered by stress, which she attributes to the demands of running her own dog-grooming business.
“I am quite a stressed person. All the little things just accumulated,” she shared.
“Work is very stressful, and I often come home feeling quite stressed. I believe it took a toll on me. I think that contributed to it,” she added.
The incident began on November 16, when her parents visited her.
Courtney went out to her back garden when she suddenly collapsed on the ground.
Realizing his daughter was in distress, Courtney’s father, Chris Watchorn, 40, began performing CPR.
“I completely blacked out; I was gone. I was dead for seven minutes,” she recalled.
Courtney was rushed to the hospital and spent four days in intensive care before being transferred to the cardiac ward.
After undergoing multiple tests, she was diagnosed with a condition known as mitral annular disjunction (MAD), a structural heart abnormality that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest.
She had an implantable defibrillator placed to prevent future cardiac arrests.
Reflecting on her experience, Courtney believes she was experiencing symptoms indicating a heart issue and that work-related stress accelerated her cardiac arrest.
“Since I was born with this condition, it was going to happen eventually, but doctors mentioned that stress made it occur sooner,” she explained.
“I did experience heart palpitations occasionally, but I attributed that to anxiety, which was clearly a sign.”
She believes stress from her job triggered the episodeCredit: Kennedy News
“I also frequently felt light-headed and dizzy, especially in the shower, and would have to turn on the cold water. I just assumed it was nothing, but it might have been a warning sign.
“This was happening more frequently in the lead-up to the incident.”
Now, Courtney is encouraging others not to ignore their own symptoms after nearly losing her life.
Courtney said: “I never would have thought it was something that serious. I wouldn’t be here without my dad. I would have died.
“If you notice any signs that something might be wrong, don’t dismiss them, even if you consider yourself the fittest, healthiest person.”
Courtney’s partner, Ellie Powers, 22, has created a fundraising page to assist with Courtney’s living expenses while she is unable to work.
Now, Courtney is urging others not to ignore their own symptoms after nearly losing her lifeCredit: Kennedy News How to Give CPR to an Adult
Check for a response. Firmly shake the person’s shoulders and loudly ask if they are okay.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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