A twenty-year journey with heart disease drives Dean’s dedication

Published: 11 November 2025

Since being diagnosed with a heart condition in 1999, Mairangi Bay local Dean has seen firsthand the positive change that heart research has made possible. Now, it’s his mission as an Area Coordinator in the Big Heart Appeal street collection to make even more of an impact.

When Dean received his first stent more than two decades ago, he was living an incredibly busy life, raising four children with his wife. The last thing he needed was a heart disease diagnosis to get in the way – but, due to his family history, that was unfortunately what happened.

“My father underwent heart surgery in his late 50s and from what I’ve been told, they opened him up, realised there was little they could do, and sewed him shut again,” he recalls. “He died from heart failure at 67, so I’ve always been aware that there was a risk.”

After having this first stent inserted, Dean decided to make all the right changes to his lifestyle. He followed a healthy diet, increased his physical activity, and kept a close eye on his heart.

But in 2014, heart disease reared its life-threatening head once again.

“I was sitting at work one day when I started having incredibly painful pangs in my chest,” he says. “Immediately, I thought ‘This is not good,’ and took myself to the GP. I probably shouldn’t have been driving, since they immediately put me in an ambulance and sent me off to the hospital.”

As it turned out, Dean needed an additional four stents to treat his blocked arteries.

“It was a bit bizarre because I remember waking up and feeling warm all over. You know, from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. It’s like I hadn’t noticed how bad my circulation had got; it just creeped up on me.”

This revelation only intensified Dean’s gratitude for having access to urgent medical attention when he needed it most.

“I just think about how far things have come since my dad’s day,” he shares. “Who knows how much longer he would have lived if he had the same opportunities as I did.”

Now 69, Dean is determined to live a longer, fuller life than his father was afforded – and wants to make it count.

“I’ve been inspired to volunteer in the Big Heart Appeal street collection because I’m grateful for the treatment I received,” he says. “I’ve been given more time to enjoy my life, and I want to use some of it to pay it forward. It’s for a worthwhile cause.”

He encourages others to support the Big Heart Appeal street collection any way they can.

“Volunteering is a huge opportunity to connect with people in your community. I’ve found people are far more inclined to give to a good cause if it’s led by someone in their area. I’ve enjoyed volunteering so much that this year, I’ve decided to step up and take on more responsibility as an Area Coordinator. It’s absolutely worth giving a try – all it takes is just two hours of your day.”