Over a month ago, club official Jim Joyce suffered a heart attack at a club board meeting but we are pleased to hear that Jim is on his way back to full health. Jim has penned a few words about the whole experience:
Some of you will remember the words of Bill Shankly – “Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.”
Well football certainly became life and death to me 5 weeks ago as Glossop North End saved my life! As many of you know, I was taking part in a GNE Board meeting on 2nd September when I suffered a cardiac arrest with no advance warning or symptoms. (One doctor said to me – “You suffered a power cut”.) The technical term is ventricular tachycardia and this apparently causes 8 out of 10 adult sudden deaths. My life was saved through the quick action of the other board members and the use of the recently purchased defibrillator which was sitting in the room still in its box. I was then in an induced coma for three days at Tameside Hospital. Scans and other tests could find no cause for what had happened – no blocked arteries and my heart is in reasonable shape. The doctors decided I needed to go to Wythenshawe Hospital to have an ICD inserted in my chest – it stands for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, a device able to perform defibrillation and pacing of the heart. They assure me that this will keep me safe and I am now recovering from the operation to put that inside me – it is quite large and left me stiff and sore!
I want to thank everyone who signed the card sent by the club which really cheered me up and also those who sent individual cards.
Pat and I hope to be at the game on Saturday. Glossop North End have been close to our hearts for over 20 years but I could never have guessed how close!
PS – the sore bits are the left shoulder area so hugs on right side only please!
Pat and I are so looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow!
Great news Jim, here’s to a speedy recovery
