Parenting took an unexpected turn for Natalie Halliday when what was supposed to be her first vacation turned into a medical emergency.

As Natalie Halliday prepared for her first maternity leave in 18 months, she was incredibly excited and a little stressed as she cleaned her house in preparation for a friend coming to look after her young children. I remember feeling that.

In 2019, while bathing William, then 18 months old, and Ava, 5 months old, and folding laundry, the experienced nurse headed out for brunch with her husband, Cliff, a much-awaited day to herself. I couldn’t wait.

Instead, just minutes later, Natalie was in the throes of a heart attack and 911 rang. The date changed and he was scheduled to stay in the hospital for three days while doctors tried to determine the cause.

“It happened so quickly,” recalls Natalie, then 30. “There was no warning, no warning. As I lifted the pile of laundry, it felt like a hose had come loose in my chest, and I was flooded with warmth and discomfort, and I knew immediately that something was wrong. ”

Natalie remained calm, asked Cliff to watch over the children, lay down with her legs up (a technique she learned during her nurse training) and called herself an ambulance.

Five minutes later, paramedics arrived and Natalie was on her way to North Shore Hospital, fearing she had just had a heart attack.

Heart disease kills one Kiwi every 90 minutes in Aotearoa, but Natalie, young, healthy and postpartum with her third baby, never thought she could be at risk. I didn’t even think about it.

“I was stunned and thought, ‘I’m too young,'” says Natalie, now 36. She is also the mother of 16-year-old Lily.

But for the first time in 60 years, Heart Foundation statistics show that the incidence of heart attacks, heart failure and strokes in Kiwis under 75 is increasing.

Adding to her confusion, doctors knew Natalie had experienced a cardiac event but were unable to figure out exactly what had happened and she was discharged from the hospital without a definitive diagnosis. .

Seeking answers, Natalie turned to another cardiologist. The doctor thought it was either spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), a rare but life-threatening disease that affects the coronary arteries, or myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle. Both increase chemical markers of heart damage in the blood.

According to Natalie, SCAD is more common in young women and mothers, and their busy lifestyles can cause them to ignore symptoms.

“I felt stress and tightness in my chest, but I thought it was due to the excitement of my day off,” says Natalie.

A few years later, Natalie underwent an MRI scan that showed scarring on her heart, likely myocarditis. This also contributed to the development of additional heart rhythm conditions called atrial fibrillation and supraventricular tachycardia.

It was a long process, but the mother of three now understands her condition better and has discovered that a combination of medications and keeping her life as stress-free as possible is best for her .

“It meant asking for more help instead of doing everything myself,” says Natalie, who has been taking heart medication daily since 2022.

“I was resistant to medication, but there was a year when I went to the emergency room more than six times because of difficulty in beating my heart.”

Looking to the future, Natalie doesn’t know exactly what will happen. “Heart will do interesting things. It’s not perfect and you can’t predict what’s going to happen.” But for now, she’s determined to make the most of every moment. she with her children.

“You feel incredibly weak after a sudden health event like this,” she explains. “So I met with a psychologist to help me sort through my experiences. We tried to understand that avoiding life out of fear means missing out on good things. .

“I focus on taking lots of pictures and making memories, and I try my best to keep it that way. I don’t want my health to interfere with my children’s experiences or leave any trace.”

Natalie doesn’t wish anyone to get heart disease, but she hopes that by sharing her story, she will encourage others, especially young mothers, to take their health seriously. Masu.

“When you’re breastfeeding and experiencing big hormonal changes, it’s hard to pinpoint what’s going on in your body,” she admits. “It was easier for me because I’m a nurse and I’m a little more conscious, but I’ve heard so many stories about women ignoring what’s going on in their hearts and their chests.

“As a mother, it’s never appropriate to take time off, but don’t feel bad if something sneaks up and happens that isn’t normal, like chest pain. Just get tested. ”