Television presenter Emma Willis has spoken candidly about her profound shock after discovering she had been living with a serious, undiagnosed heart condition for nearly five decades.
A Life-Changing Diagnosis
In April last year, the 48-year-old star revealed to her fans that she had been diagnosed with a hole in her heart that she has had since birth. The condition, which she was entirely unaware of, necessitated surgery at the specialist Royal Brompton Hospital in London. Willis described being completely floored by the news, having gone 48 years without any indication that something was wrong.
"I was floored as I had gone 48 years oblivious, not knowing anything was wrong," she admitted. The mental impact of the diagnosis was significant. "The mental shift was the biggest challenge because when you hear those words, it terrifies you," she explained.
Undergoing Keyhole Surgery and Recovery
Willis underwent a keyhole heart surgery procedure, a modern alternative to traditional open-heart surgery. This minimally invasive technique involves making small incisions in the chest rather than opening the breastbone, leading to a smoother and often faster recovery.
While her physical recovery was straightforward, the presenter highlighted that the psychological adjustment was more challenging. "It's been a smooth recovery, it's been much more of a psychological adjustment, because you don't have a wound that you can see. The healing is all internal and you can't feel it," she told The Sun. Willis also confessed to suffering from 'terrible anxiety' in the lead-up to the operation, describing herself as a "brilliant overthinker."
Raising Awareness with the British Heart Foundation
Emma Willis has now partnered with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) to help raise awareness for the millions of people living with heart and circulatory diseases. As part of its 65th anniversary, the BHF is unveiling 65 red benches across the UK in tribute to those affected by cardiovascular conditions.
Willis hopes that by sharing her story, she can offer support to others. "I'm hoping sharing my story will help others going through something like this," she said. She reflected on her luck in discovering the condition before a potential crisis, noting that many people only find out after suffering a stroke. "That kind of really makes you realise, actually, 'oh that's what I could have been dealing with'. So I was so lucky," she stated during an appearance on ITV's Lorraine last summer.
The discovery was made following a referral to a cardiologist after a check-up revealed she had high cholesterol. Further investigation, including an MRI scan, showed one side of her heart was enlarged, leading to the diagnosis of the congenital defect. The hole has since been sealed with a metal plug.
