Liz had her SCAD on 10 March 2017 while she was at work in the cardiac catheter labs at Northwick Park Hospital. She worked there as the cardiac catheter lab Matron and has worked in the labs for over 20 years.
Liz told us: “I had two fleeting pains in my chest that lasted seconds and I thought the pain was just muscular. The third pain was as fleeting but moved across my chest to my left armpit. This was when I decided to have an ECG. I read my own ECG and knew that there was something wrong. I showed the ECG to the consultant who asked where the patient was. On telling him it was my ECG he told me to get my family in and that I needed to go straight to the lab. My family arrived and were told they did not expect to find anything wrong with me as I was the fittest member of staff in the department.”
Liz recalled: “Everything moved extremely fast; the team, my colleagues, were so professional. I can remember the consultant shouting at the screen, him asking for stents and a nurse asking if she should put the call out as I was peri arrest. Thankfully the amazing skill of the consultant prevented me from going into cardiac arrest. I woke to see an anaesthetist standing over me and everyone shocked and some crying. I was informed that I might need ITU as I was in mild respiratory failure and that my kidneys might fail. The consultant was fully aware of SCAD but questioned himself if he had caused the dissections.
Her SCAD involved the Left main stem (LMS) , Left anterior descending (LAD) and Circumflex (CX) arteries. The LMS and LAD were stented and the CX left to heal itself.
“I spent five days in CCU surrounded by so much love and kindness. I had to return to the lab three days later for further ballooning of the LMS and to check that CX was healing. I was absolutely petrified to return to the lab and my family were extremely scared for me.”
Liz said that as she recovered, “The cardiac drugs made me feel like I didn't exist and I was soon negotiating being taken off of them. Physically I was OK, a few chest pains, which I told was normal. The pains scared me so much. Mentally I really struggled. On the outside I was being strong and positive for my family and colleagues. I held so much in and this led me to being diagnosed with PTSD.”
As Liz loves running and said: “I asked my consultant if I would still be able to run! I was told no running for three months – at least it wasn’t no. But I’m not a good patient! I needed to run for my mental health. I started gently running at eight weeks, but didn’t tell anyone! At the three-month point I ran my local 5K park run at a steady pace with my daughters. Running has been an important part of my recovery and made me both mentally and physically stronger.”
She continued: “Returning to work was difficult and a rollercoaster of emotions. I was back where it all happened and was dealing with cardiac arrests. My role was very demanding and so I decided to take early retirement two years later.”
Now 63, Liz supports other patients. She said: “The SCAD Facebook group offers amazing to support to all SCAD survivors and I often link up with people locally to support them and share my journey and help them on theirs.”
She is also fundraising for Beat SCAD by running The Big Half in September 2025.
She found out about the charity through cardiologist Dr Abtehale (Abi) Al-Hussaini. Lis said: “I googled SCAD whilst in CCU and saw that Dr Abi Al-Hussaini was specialising in SCAD research. I had worked with Abi when she was a registrar and still had her contact details, so I messaged her straight away.”
She added: “I want to help raise money to allow for the continued research into SCAD and why it happens. Also, to show that there is life after SCAD. I will be running the half marathon with my daughter Michaela Mayor. She is an accomplished runner and a tough coach. She looks after me, gives me confidence and encourages me to believe in myself. I have also joined Hillingdon athletic club and the support is amazing. I was told not to chase personal bests or push too hard! At the end of 2024 I ran my fastest Park run. My cardiologists are aware :)”
Please support Liz by donating on her fundraising page.