A change

So behind the scenes, I’ve been song writing. Now I think it’s one everyone’s mind about the recent outbreak. It’s important not to stress but the project has changed a little. I was no long able to video the other participants. They still have their stories which I’m still going to share and their song. They won’t be in the final video as the footage filmed isn’t enough therefore it will only be Roberts family in the video. So things to look out for… Roberts song, Josephs song and the final song which has been composed to the video footage.

Hopefully the songs and video will keep your mind off of the stressfulness of life, even it’s just for a minute or so.

To most people the video won’t mean anything to them but since you’ve been reading this blog and following the page. You’ll understand the lyrics and your family may be able to relate.

Stay with us and stay safe.

Joseph’s Brief

Joseph’s Brief is a transcript from an interview. As I mentioned he was unwell and unable to write. I went to his house and he told me his story over a cuppa.

The Heart Attack was in the May and it was a pretty normal day. Got up, took the grandkids to school went home pottered about the garden. There was nothing really off, maybe a mild pain in my chest but nothing really major. I mean I could definitely feel it but as I said didn’t really think much. To be fair, I do get a lot of indigestion and heart burn. Just thought it was maybe to do with that. Anyhow, it was about 1 o’clock, the pain was still there maybe it was getting worse. I can’t really remember that well. I remember it was about 2.30 and I was getting ready to pick my grandchildren up from school. The pain at this point was getting worse, like a really bad muscle pain almost like I’d strained it but it was constantly there. I picked them up from school, took them back to ours. It must have been about 4.30 because I decided to phone the doctor. I just phoned the surgery, and said I was slightly worried but didn’t want to come down see the doctor in case it was a waste of time.

I’ll never forget it…the doctor told me to go straight to A&E and someone else had to drive me there. The doctor told the A&E department that I’d be coming. When I arrived the receptionist gave me a paper to sign, then I was taken straight in. I felt really bizarre, all those people were in the waiting room and I took straight away. Fast forward, I was hooked up to all of those drips and all this other stuff. Scans, the lot. Turns out I had a heart attack, its absolutely mad to think about. I was just going about my business picking the kids up from school and I’m having a heart attack. I doctors were all really good, what they can do these days it amazing.

Afterword’s, I there were some mixed feelings. I was obviously happy to be alive but thinking back that could’ve been really bad. I could have dropped dead; I was driving my grandchildren about. I feel an intense amount a guilt about that, I should’ve said something earlier because those kids are my life. The wee ones could’ve seen their papa die. I was faced with some choices, I decided to stop smoking. Which was hard, I has been smoking since I was maybe 14. I’ll be honest I still drink but no were near as much I did. I must be doing something right cause I’ve not had another one.

I’d say now I feel grateful to be here, I the kids go off to university and see my daughters turn 50. Hope to here for more years.

Joseph’s Story

Hello! Its February, how times flies. This is my update, so much has been happening with the project and it’s been quite a journey. I just wanted to let you know that one of the participants of the study over Christmas and new year had taken incredibly unwell with pneumonia. Joseph is a 78-year-old man and had his heart attack in 2005. This was 15 years ago!! This means the treatment for Joseph was very different from Roberts treatment. His story is very different from Roberts.

Joseph was 63, he had retired from the Steel works when he was 50 therefore his main duties were looking after his grandchildren as well has having a great social life. Joseph is really passionate about playing bowls. It was a normal day but then Joseph started to get a little bit of chest pain however thought it was perhaps indigestion. He carried on with his day, however it was a constant pain. This lasted for quite a few hours. The next day, the pain was still there. Joseph decided he should phone his doctor, as he was a little concerned however not enough to go to Accident and Emergency Department.

Once he phoned the doctor, the doctor told him to go straight to the hospital and someone else had to drive him there. Once he reached the hospital he was made to wait in the waiting room. After a while he was seen by the doctor. The doctor did various test; it was then discovered he was having a heart attack. This could have gone on for days before it would have ended in fatality. The treatment for joseph was different as he didn’t have to have surgery. Joseph ended up being given medication which dissolved the blood clot.

After this, Joseph had to change his life style. This included stopping smoking, drinking less alcohol and change his diet.

Although Joseph has completely recovered he is still extremely ‘paranoid’ and worries it will happen again but end differently.

The song in which I have written about Josephs experience, reflect the paranoia and the questions asked. It also reflects his feelings towards it his family.  

Stay Tuned for Josephs Brief!

Roberts Brief and Song

Robert has written me a brief and a I have written a song and filmed clips for his part of the project.

I have written a song connecting Roberts brief to lyrics.

Here are the lyrics to the song, the song will be release on Spotify in 2020. Keep your eyes peeled.

I was scared for the first time in my life
Not for being gone but for I would leave behind
I was scared that I had let them down
Because of my choices I wouldn’t be around

If I’m honest, I know I’m okay
But the memory in my head is all day
If I’m honest, I know I’m okay
But everyday is a struggle

Now there’s so many things that I may never achieve
There’s so many things that I’ve still to see
I don’t know where I’ll be in say 10 years
This moment right now, I’m glad I’m here

So many things that I’ve still to do
I swear on my life I’ll always love you
I don’t where I’ll be in say 10 years
This moment right now I’m glad I’m here

It is over but now I feel cold, everyday I feel like I’m getting old
Being back at work, they make it so much worse
They’ll never understand what it’s like to be hurt

If I’m honest, I know I’ll be okay
I’ll be here for every Christmas and every birthday
But if I’m honest, I know I’ll be okay
Yet everyday is a struggle

Robert Story

Well, it’s been a while but I’m here to give an update on my work with the project.

So where to begin. Robert is my first feature in this project.

Robert had a heart attack in august 2019 and is on his road to recovery. This story is very interesting but also very scary. Robert woke up at about 4am with a tight pain in his chest, at first he thought nothing of it. He went to the toilet and then suddenly the pain became much worse. He decided to go downstairs and put on his apple watch to check his heart rate just as precaution. When he strapped on his watch, this watch immediately alerted him that his heart rate was below 50 and impute in his symptoms. Once he imputed his symptoms the watch told him to contact emergency services asap. After this his wife phoned the ambulance service, they took 20 minutes to arrive then he was treated at home before being rushed off to the hospital. He says it was the longest 20 minutes of his life, he was in so much pain and though he was going to die in front of his family.

Once arriving at the hospital he was taken straight to the operation room for a procedure. Three stents were put in place, they went through his wrist and straight to his heart. He said once the first stent was put in he felt his breath return to normal.

During Roberts recovery he found it hard not being able to do the things he did before. He couldn’t walk very far and couldn’t drive or help around the house. He was off of work for 8 weeks before returning to work. He was very nervous about returning to work. When he returned to work as a chef, due to ‘budgeting’ the managerial team decided that he was to no longer to have a catering assistant therefore was to work himself in the kitchen.

Returning back to normal life after a heart attack or illness is often a long process. Stories like Roberts are common, many companies do not sympathise with ill people and in case make life harder.

Family Values Project 12/11/2019

Family Values is a project which is representing and involving families and people who have been affect by cardiac illnesses with a focus on Heart attacks. Within the next 6 months you can follow my journey into the completion of the project.

This project itself will be following three families where a member has suffered from a heart attack and how life is now. This is a creative project which involves a video and three songs.

The video which is currently being filmed follows a similar format to the popular show ‘Goggle Box’ which film families watching television. There are also different aspects to the film which will involve doing other things like talking, decorating or house work. Once the video is completed, the third song will be composed and the film used as a brief.

I am a songwriter, therefore writing songs comes easily to me. Writing the songs, the families has their own song which represents their experience written by myself.

Stay Tuned for more updates

Louise

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