Anthony Martin from Kilkenny was an intellectual disabilities nurse and lecturer in Waterford Institute of Technology, halfway through his doctorate studies, when he was faced with a series of health challenges that would have a serious impact on his life.

In 2008, during his usual morning routine, Anthony noticed that his voice had become slurred, and his face and hands were drooping. Fortunately, his daughter was at home and took him straight to the hospital. With F.A.S.T. signs of stroke and after numerous tests the diagnosis was that Anthony had suffered a stroke. It came as a terrible shock.

Anthony, a father of four, was only 57 years old and this stroke would mark the beginning of a new phase in his life. He was promptly prescribed statin medications that worked for him, but an MRI scan revealed that his heart was in further trouble. His arteries were 80% blocked, and within a year, he underwent a triple heart bypass.

He spent a week in hospital and “the recuperation was slow, and for months, I could do absolutely nothing but rest.”

Anthony took the difficult decision to retire early on disability grounds. Looking back, he recalls a time before his health challenges when he thought he was in good shape. “I was busy, active, and living life,” he says. But in hindsight, there were signs. Tiredness he dismissed as just the result of a demanding career, occasional aches and pains that he disregarded. “I remember saying at times, ‘I’ve been working hard, but if I lie down on the floor now, I’d go to sleep.”

Despite his nursing background, Anthony had never paid too much attention to his health or lifestyle. The stroke was a turning point. “I gave up smoking the day I had the stroke in 2008,” he says. “I know 100% that if I hadn’t quit, I would be dead by now. That was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”

But the challenges didn’t end there. In 2013, after visiting his doctor for hip pain, Anthony received the difficult news that blood tests revealed that he had colon cancer, which had spread to his lymph nodes. “I remember the doctor saying I had cancer, and I heard nothing after that. I thought this happens to other people. It’s not me. She’s not talking to me”. Chemotherapy followed, and though it was gruelling with three weeks spent in hospital Anthony has come to see his cancer diagnosis as a bit of twisted luck. “If I hadn’t gone to the doctor for my hips, that cancer could have been growing away inside me without me knowing. I was lucky it was detected early.”

In 2015 Anthony had both of his hips replaced. He’s “totally reconditioned. Like a new car!”. Unfortunately, his health challenges were not yet over.

Last year he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, a condition that causes fluid to build up around the heart and lungs. Anthony was walking up steps in the Aviva stadium when he found himself “totally breathless and near collapse”. He went to his GP who immediately sent him to the emergency department, and he was admitted with congestive heart failure.

“The heart’s not doing its job properly,” Anthony explains, “so I take water tablets to get rid of the fluid. My heart and kidneys just aren’t doing what they’re supposed to do.” To manage the condition, Anthony monitors his weight and blood pressure daily. If he gains more than 2kg in 24 hours, he’s on the phone to his doctor immediately. “I also check my ankles regularly for odema (a build-up of fluid in the body which causes the affected tissue to become swollen)” he adds, noting the importance of staying vigilant.

For Anthony, this diagnosis brought new challenges. Tiredness became a constant challenge. “It’s pure fatigue. I just can’t seem to shake it. It’s been much worse since last February”. Anthony has learned ways to manage this. In the past he would just keep going and try to do as much as he could. Now if he is out walking and gets tired, he sits down, takes a break and gathers his thoughts. He has discussed these issues with his doctor and his medications have recently been reviewed. Walking home from town yesterday he noticed that he is starting to feel a bit better in himself.

After his diagnosis of congestive heart failure Anthony was referred to the Irish Heart Foundation where he received monthly phone calls from a cardiac nurse as part of the Heart Connect Service where he “got very good advice about managing (his) condition, fatigue and general lifestyle”.  This involvement with the Irish Heart Foundation has been particularly important.

“Knowing I can always call the Nurse Support Line to speak to someone gives me great peace of mind,” said Anthony.

Anthony credits the organisation with not only providing valuable medical advice but also practical help such as referrals to organisations like Age Action Ireland and Meals on Wheels. “I don’t have to worry about food or grocery shopping anymore, and I’ve drastically reduced my food waste” Anthony shares. “It’s a huge relief not to have to think about that every day”.

Anthony has remained very proactive in managing his wellbeing and attends a monthly heart failure clinic at Waterford Regional Hospital. Whether it’s a phone call to the Irish Heart Foundation, a check-up at the clinic, or simply taking a break when he’s feeling fatigued, he’s learning to manage his condition with the support of others. “There’s always someone there when I need them,” he says. “The services are there, and I know I can always talk to someone. That’s a huge help.”

One of the most difficult aspects of his journey has been giving up the things he loves. A trained sports injury therapist and “sports mad”, Anthony had spent twenty years as the medic for numerous local hurling and soccer teams in Kilkenny. “It was a big void in my life when I had to give that up,” he admits. “I miss the camaraderie, being in the changing room at the match, helping someone when they get injured.” While he still enjoys going to matches, Anthony knows it was the right decision to step back. He now has the flexibility of being able to watch a match when he feels like it, without the pressure of having to be there.

His advice to others who might be facing health difficulties mirrors his own experience: “If you know something’s wrong, don’t wait. Go to your doctor. It’s not going to get better on its own. It’ll only get worse. Take control of your health, no matter what it is.”

Now aged 64, Anthony is determined to keep moving forward and has just returned from a trip to see his son and grandson in Oslo. He loves spending time with his children and five grandchildren and “after my grandkids, my main interest in life revolves around sport”. And for those facing similar health challenges, his message is simple but powerful: “It’s your story. It’s up to you to do something about it.”