Heart to Heart

In this episode of Heart to Heart, Sarah is joined by country music legend, Philomena Begley, about her experience of being struck by heart attack and how NICHS’s services have helped her in her recovery. Sarah also speaks to Andrew McMurdie, a 20-year-old singer-songwriter from Armagh, who was struck down by COVID-19 and completely lost his power of speech for a time, but, incredibly, not his singing voice.

Gillian Thompson, who is Head of Cardiac Services at Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke, also joins the discussion on how NICHS’s services can help those dealing with chest, heart and stroke conditions like Andrew and Philomena.

This episode of Heart to Heart is all about asthma, and its potential dangers if it is not managed properly. Sarah speaks to 9 year old Dara about what it’s like living with asthma, and is also joined by Professor Mike Shields, a respiratory paediatrician with many years of experience of researching and treating patients with difficult asthma, and a board member for Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke.

In this episode of Heart to Heart, Sarah speaks to Rebecca Logan, who fell ill with COVID-19 in 2020. Aged just 40, she went from being healthy and active to being virtually housebound due to Long COVID. Catherine Murnin, Head of Care Services at Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke, also joins the discussion on living with Long COVID and how the charity’s COVID-19 Recovery Programme, which is the first service  of its kind in Northern Ireland, has helped aid local sufferers like Rebecca in their recovery.

In this episode of Heart to Heart, Sarah Travers speaks to Craig Shilliday from Portadown who survived a stroke in 2019, and Damien Hillen from Saval who underwent major heart surgery that same year. Both of them have since stepped up to their own challenge to raise money for Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke. They are also joined by Nadia Duncan, Events and Marketing Manager at Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke, to talk about all things fundraising and how it benefits NICHS’s work.

In this episode of Heart to Heart, Sarah Travers speaks to Julie McAllister and her husband Derek about their terrifying close call with heart disease and how it impacted their family when Julie was struck by a massive heart attack aged just 39. Sarah also speaks with Dr. Carol Wilson, local cardiologist and NICHS Board Member, about the potential causes of a heart attack, and how this deadly condition can be treated and prevented.

In the first episode of Heart to Heart, Sarah Travers speaks to Alison McElveen and Derek McConnell, both of whom survived strokes in their 50s, about coping with life after stroke at a young age, and how they found support and friendship at their local Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke support group.

A new Vodcast series from Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke, presented by Sarah Travers. In a series of emotional and inspiring interviews, Sarah Travers speaks to survivors, supporters and friends of our charity about the reality of living with chest, heart and stroke illness.