Since both of Gill Warnock’s parents have suffered heart attacks, she is determined to maintain a fit and healthy lifestyle – and is planning a spectacular trek along the Great Wall of China to prove the point.
Her parents Pam and Jim each had to have triple heart bypass surgery. And it was an especially scary moment for Gill and son Jacob, 10, when Pam went into cardiac arrest three times during the operation.
Gill Warnock and mum Pam
Despite those worrying times, Gill, 43, fortunately still has and lives with her parents in Sarisbury Green and has planned to walk the Great Wall of China in aid of British Heart Foundation, which supported the family during the heart scares.
“I always say to Jacob we’ve only got one heart so we’ve got to look after it,” said Gill, who lives in Brook Lane.
“I don’t know how we all got through it really but we did.
“It’s made me a lot more active and determined get out there and do more for myself to get fit.
“I’m really doing this for mum and dad who have both had heart trouble over the years. It’s something to give back. And I’ve always wanted to go to China because I enjoy travelling. It will be a fantastic experience.
“They’ve been so supportive of what I’ve done over my life and I’ll probably get all emotional when I’m out there.”
Jim, 72, had a stroke 10 years ago and then two years later had a heart attack which prompted the surgery at Southampton General Hospital where he was looked after in intensive care for two days.
But when Pam fell ill two years ago with aching pains in her face and chest, which felt like indigestion, a hospital scan revealed she had blockages in her heart and needed the triple bypass operation and a tracheotomy – an incision in the windpipe to relieve the obstruction to her breathing.
The 70-year-old was unconscious in the hospital’s intensive care unit for four weeks – and at Southampton General Hospital for six weeks in total.
Gill and workers at Locks Heath Day Care centre will hold a cake sale
Since then couple have both been on tablets and had regular hospital check-ups. The British Heart Foundation has supported the family and particularly helped to advise Pam on exercise routines and fitness programmes to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Care worker Gill, who works at the Locks Heath Day Care Centre, needs to raise £2,800 for the gruelling 40km walk from October 18 to 27. She will be walking 8km a day for five days.
The day care centre is helping to raise awareness of the challenge as well as funds for it with a cake sale on Saturday (February 16).
Anyone is welcome to buy the home-made baked cakes and have a hot drink between 10am and mid-day at the venue in Centre Way.
For details on how to sponsor Gill email gillwarnock@yahoo.co.uk.