My condition meant I was terrified to go to sleep in case I never woke up
Police officer Steve Evans got a second chance at life
by Shaurya Shaurya · Wales Online“I was in a situation where I was literally terrified to go to sleep. There was a chance I would never wake up again,” said fifty-three-year-old Steve Evans a Swansea-based police officer.
Steve’s health crisis began in 2013 when he was diagnosed with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy - meaning his heart was beating in an irregular, life-threatening way. He had been fit and active until then. He was then fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) which sends electrical pulses to regulate abnormal heart rhythms after spending weeks at Morriston Hospital. For the latest Swansea news, sign up to our newsletter here
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He was offered a job in the Swansea Coroner’s Office, where for the next few years he spent a relatively normal life until he started to experience short periods when his heartbeat would become erratic at the start of 2017. This became more severe in 2020 when Steve started to suffer prolonged periods when his heart rhythm became dangerous. This would repeatedly trigger his ICD, causing him intense discomfort and leaving him in need of treatment at a hospital.
He said: “I remember the first time it happened. I had seven shocks from my ICD very close together. When your ICD goes off, it’s like being kicked in the chest by a horse. The episodes were happening at any time - I could be sitting down watching TV. It even went off when my heart rate was faster than normal. It was just horrendous.”
Steve underwent another procedure at Morriston Hospital to correct the problem but as he continued to suffer problems, he was placed on the heart transplant list in September 2022. For the next 12 months, he anxiously waited as he was alerted five times about the possibility of a donor's heart, only to find out that the heart was not suitable. A match was finally found last year.
He said: “I owe so much to the donor who I know nothing of and without them, I would not be leading the life I’m leading. And all this is why I would urge anyone who hasn’t already made a decision about joining the register to take a bit of time to have a really good think about it.”
There has been a soft opt-out system for organ donation in Wales since 2015, which means that if you don’t specify whether you want to donate or not on the national organ donation register, it will be considered that you don't have an objection to your organs being donated to others.
However, even though the aim behind it is to increase the number of donations, if the patient has not expressed their wishes beforehand, the final decision rests with the family. The number of family members who consent to their loved ones’ organs being donated has been falling in recent years making it even more important for everyone who hasn’t done so to make a decision, after careful consideration, and to register the decision.
Swansea Bay Organ Donation Nurse Specialist Jessica Becker, one of two members of staff who work closely with potential donors and their families said: “There is no greater gift one person can give to another, which is why having conversations around organ donation is so important.
“I totally understand that talking about death and your wishes after you die is not something many people feel particularly comfortable with… We don’t ever want to push family members to make a decision they feel uncomfortable with. This conversation is always done sensitively and in a timely manner, with the dignity and respect of the patient and potential donor and family at the heart.”
According to Nurse Baker, over 4600 people waiting for an organ transplant had their lives saved by 1,510 deceased organ donors and their families who supported organ donation. One donor can donate enough organs to save 9 lives.
“Having these conversations when you feel the time is right, to let people know your feelings is so, so important. And then it’s also so important that you take those few minutes to register as a donor or otherwise,” she said. “We of course, do not ever think it will happen to us and only around 1% of people who die in the UK every year are able to donate their organs after death. However, if more people perhaps took a little bit of time to think about how they could potentially save a life, and then talk that through with those close to them, the pool of potential would increase and even more lives could be saved.”
Steve, who received his transplant last November at a specialist hospital in London wasn’t initially allowed to drive after his transplant, so he bought himself an e-bike which he used to get about and to help regain strength. Since then he has been able to raise over £1500 for the Swansea Bay Health Charity and the British Heart Foundation by taking on the London to Brighton ride.
He said: “Doing the British Heart Foundation ride has allowed me to give something back and express my sincere thanks for all the amazing care I’ve received.”
Also, he remains grateful to those who supported him throughout this ordeal. “In the Swansea Cardiac Care Unit, I have the brilliant Dr Andrei Margulescu - who in my eyes is a legend - and Dr Thomas to thank for everything they did for me. All the staff at the unit were fantastic.
“I also must thank the doctors and staff at Harefield Hospital for performing the surgery, who kept me alive after surgery and complications and continue to monitor and guide my recovery. A massive thank you to my family and friends who have been there for me and looked after me. I’m doing really well thanks to them and others.”