This group of heart surgery survivors are looking for more buddies.
We’re talking about the Heart Buddies, formed in Chatham in late 2022. Member Ian Cruickshank, one of the founders, said it began as a support group for people recovering from open heart surgery.
“That’s how it started. But we’ve had people who have had heart attacks, had stents put in, and other less-invasive surgeries. It’s still a heart issue or episode,” he said.
The Heart Buddies go beyond where normal health care stops. The physicians operate or address the health issue, but the buddies support one another as they recover.
Cruickshank had triple bypass surgery in April of 2022. At the time, the pandemic was still a serious concern, and getting appointments with doctors to answer questions was a challenge.
Now, he’s gone from having questions to providing answers…and support.
He’s one of three leaders of the Heart Buddies. Brenda Stevens, a social worker with the Thamesview Family Health Team, and Jen Padbury, a heart surgery survivor from a decade prior to Cruickshank’s procedure, round out the group.
Cruickshank said Stevens’ contributions are life-changing.
“Brenda was the main one behind this. Her dedication to the entire group has been amazing,” he said. “She brought in some very knowledgeable professionals – from a cardiac nurse to respiratory and occupational therapists to a clinical pharmacist – to speak to us. It gives us some direction on where we need to go.”
Monthly meetings of the group take place at the Thamesview Family Health Team on Grand Avenue in Chatham. Cruickshank said the gatherings help to keep people on the right track with diet and exercise.
“And we talk about what we went through,” he said. “It can be quite an emotional roller coaster. The mental issues of having a heart attack is not really talked about with your doctor.”
Cruickshank said the Heart Buddies usually see about 10-16 people attend their meetings. Some come for one meeting and don’t return, but others stay and listen; and speak.
Cruickshank said for many attendees, the first meeting or two is more observation than anything else.
“It might take a couple of meetings before someone opens up,” he said. “You feel a sense of relief. ‘I’m not going through this alone.’”
Cruickshank said having your caregiver attend can also be beneficial, as both have endured through diagnosis and surgery, and are now onto recovery.
“Minus the surgery, they (caregivers) basically go through the same things the patient does; they live it.”
The Heart Buddies gather the third Wednesday of the month at the Thamesview FHT offices. For more information, call 519-354-0070 or visit thamesviewfht.ca.
