A student was 'brought back from the dead' in a dramatic life-saving operation - which involved having all the blood drained from her body.
Izzy Scott, 23, underwent the drastic surgery after being diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension, a disease resulting from high blood pressure in the lungs.
In order to remove a build up of clots doctors had to drain the blood from her body and lower her body temperature by half.
Advert
She was 'technically dead' while the operation was ongoing and after the clots were removed from her lungs, the blood was refilled and her temperature increased - effectively bringing her back to life.
The third year theatre student at the University of York is speaking about what she went through as part of pulmonary hypertension awareness week.
She said: "When I first heard about what the operation actually involved I was scared. They basically had to kill me then bring me back to life.
"It's obviously a very worrying prospect but I knew it was something that needed to be done and something that should help. I had to come to terms with it."
The operation, called a pulmonary endarterectomy, was carried out in August when, due to Covid-19 restrictions, Izzy couldn't see family once at the hospital.
Advert
She said: "I was totally alone. I was on my own in the hospital for three days before the surgery. It was really hard thinking that if I didn't wake up, the last conversation with my family would have been via FaceTime."
Fortunately the surgery was a success, although due to complications from a brain bleed Izzy did have to stay in hospital for three more weeks afterwards.
Izzy said: "The operation has made a massive difference to my quality of life. I'm now able to do the little things that I used to take for granted but then couldn't do after I became unwell.
"Stuff like taking taking the dog for the walk and even just walking upstairs or doing my shoe laces."
Izzy began feeling unwell in October 2018, suffering from severe breathlessness, chest pain, dizziness and water retention. Her lips also turned blue, because oxygen was unable to make its way around her body.
Advert
After becoming so ill she was unable to leave the house, she was eventually admitted to hospital, where she received her diagnosis in December last year.
Izzy had a rare type of pulmonary hypertension called chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), caused by a build-up of blood clots and scarring in the pulmonary arteries.
Only 400 people in the UK have that type of the disease. It's so rare that there is only one hospital in the country which does the operation Izzy underwent - Royal Papworth in Cambridge.
Izzy is speaking to try and help others understand the condition so they don't have to wait as long as her for a diagnosis.
Advert
She said: "I want to raise awareness of CTEPH because I had no idea of what it was before it happened to me and young people especially are not always aware of what could happen. It's a complicated condition to explain to people.
"I am always wondering how different things may have been if it had been detected earlier. Would it have got to the point of needing surgery?
"I went through a year of going back and forth with my GP and even after diagnosis I still encounter medical professionals who don't know what it is. I understand it's rare, but it can kill people. Ultimately, my operation saved my life."
Featured Image Credit: SWNS