Surgery ‘guinea pig’ celebrates birthday (From News Shopper)

Surgery ‘guinea pig’ celebrates birthday

12:21pm Tuesday 15th March 2005 in Bexley By Tim Ashton

AN AVID swimmer who needed pioneering heart surgery to save her life has toasted her 40th birthday.

Sharon Hodgson, of Carisbrooke Avenue, Bexley, was born with a malformed artery which enlarged her heart and caused heavy internal bleeding.

By 1994 doctors said her life balanced on a knife-edge and she needed corrective surgery which, at the time, was untested.

Her plight made News Shopper's front page as Guy's Hospital imported top American cardiologist Dr John Reidy to perform the world first.

Miss Hodgson, who is paraplegic but loves to swim and visit the gym, said: "I was the guinea pig and it was scary stuff.

"But when you're told it's the operation or you'll pop your clogs then you don't have much choice."

The three-hour operation saw Dr Reidy insert a patch to block bloodflow and her heart returned to normal size.

Ten years on and Miss Hodgson was joined by family and friends from Canada and across the UK to celebrate her birthday.

She said: "The whole family loves to party and of course they all say I don't look 40."

Although wheelchair-bound since 1985 and now suffering from osteoporosis, Miss Hodgson says her condition has made her a better person.

She said: "I appreciate things so much more and I try to live life to the full because you never know what is around the corner."

Miss Hodgson, who works for a London finance company, needed a second operation in 2000 after a leaking artery was found to be enlarging her heart again.

She said: "There is every chance I may need another operation but my heart is constantly monitored and since 1994 there have been lots of operations so it is not quite as scary."

Her mum Robina Priston said: "I am so proud of Sharon, she has a lot of fight and spirit.

"We presented her with a bouquet of lovely flowers because she is a lovely and bubbly person."