Victoria Thomas, a 35-year-old from Gloucester, experienced a life-changing medical emergency when her heart stopped beating during a gym session. An active and healthy woman who enjoyed netball and exercise, Victoria was suddenly taken ill and collapsed while training with a friend.
Her heart remained stopped for a full 17 minutes before she was resuscitated; she was then placed in an induced coma. Victoria credits her coach, Adam, whose relentless CPR efforts were crucial in preventing permanent brain damage.
Although Victoria has limited memories of the incident, she recalls one vivid and haunting element from the near-death experience. In an interview with OMG Stories, she said, “I remember being above my legs and thinking: ‘Oh my gosh your legs are really fat.’ I don’t know if that was an out of body experience or something like that.”
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She described the sensation as if she was observing herself from above, looking down from the gym ceiling at the scene below. “People were around me. I was there and I saw the size of my legs and they were absolutely huge. That’s all I can remember. When I look back at pictures from that day, my body had swollen dramatically just before it happened. It was quite shocking how big I was.”
Victoria was rushed to Bristol Royal Infirmary, where she stayed in a coma for three days before being revived by medical staff. Doctors fitted her with a defibrillator-an implantable device that administers regulated electrical pulses to correct abnormal heart rhythms. She was discharged one week later.
Despite this recovery, Victoria’s health challenges were not over. During a subsequent pregnancy with her son Tommy, her heart began to weaken under the strain. Genetic tests revealed she had Danon disease, a rare condition that causes the heart muscles to thicken. She was the first in her family to be diagnosed with this genetic mutation.
Medical professionals initially recommended delivering the baby at 24 weeks, but Victoria persuaded them to allow the pregnancy to continue. At 30 weeks, due to breathing difficulties, Tommy was born by caesarean section.
When Tommy was just six months old, further tests showed Victoria’s heart capacity had diminished to 11%, indicating end-stage heart failure. She was placed on the transplant waiting list and ultimately received a heart transplant only hours before her own heart would have failed completely.
Since the transplant, Victoria’s life has greatly improved. Tests have shown that her son has not inherited Danon disease. She has also embraced an active lifestyle and was selected to compete in volleyball and basketball at the World Transplant Games, describing herself as “probably fitter now than I’ve ever been before.”
Reflecting on her journey, Victoria said, “I worry less about certain things in life. To give. To become part of the donor register. Giving your organs can save so many lives and so many different families. I want to travel more, play sports and enjoy every single day.”