Learning to trust her heart again

Published: 24 February 2026

After years of unknown symptoms, Karen had a frightening heart event on Christmas Day. But that shock became her wake up call - pushing her to heal and listen to her heart and instincts once more.

Karen (57) and her partner Blair live in a remote region in the Catlins, on the southern coast of the South Island, where they run a motel in Kākā Point. 

It’s busy with tourists who enjoy the native bush and beautiful beaches.  With their business, adult children and six grandchildren, life was full. 

However, Karen’s heart had started to give her warning signs that something wasn’t right. 

Night-time symptoms 

Looking back, Karen thinks it started several years ago. Out of nowhere, her heart would race and flutter. Nights were the worst - she’d lie in bed and tell Blair, “My heart’s going up and down again.”  

It felt really strange, but she didn’t realise it was anything serious. 

She went to her GP, and while a referral was meant to be sent through, it never reached the specialist.   

Christmas Day  

A year passed. Then, on Christmas Day, Karen had a frightening episode where her heart wouldn’t settle back into rhythm.  

“My heartbeat was all over the show reaching a heart rate of around 190 beats per minute, for four hours or so. I had gone to bed at around 9.30 pm because I hadn’t felt 100% and woke in the night. 

Living rurally means that an ambulance is at least three hours away from their home, so it wasn’t going to be a great option. 

Realising help was hours away really shook her. 

She went to her GP soon after, and this time saw a locum at the clinic who asked lots of questions and a referral was actioned. 

Getting answers 

In January, Karen finally saw a cardiologist. After an ECG, an ultrasound, and a seven-day heart monitor, the team saw enough to call her into hospital for more tests. She had a specialised ultrasound down her throat and an angiogram. 

The news came quickly and hit hard - she had severe mitral valve regurgitation, and it needed to be fixed immediately. “It was a huge shock,” she says. 

Mitral valve regurgitation is a heart condition where the valve doesn't close properly, causing blood to leak backward into the left atrium. This forces the heart to work harder, which can lead to symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling, and in severe cases, can cause the heart to enlarge and eventually lead to heart failure. 

Life after surgery 

The valve surgery went smoothly, better than she expected. Karen speaks incredibly highly of the heart team at Dunedin Hospital.  

But what came after was harder for her. 

Leaving hospital felt like stepping into the unknown. “It’s scary going home and not knowing if you’re going to be okay,” she says.  

Without nurses, monitors, or a button to push when her heart wasn’t functioning properly, she found herself on a real mental journey, one that was harder than the physical recovery. 

“There is no history of heart disease in my family, and the diagnosis was really out of left field for me.”  

As well as the heart condition, health professionals had also discovered she had atrial fibrillation (AF). 

While they were hoping it would be fixed with the operation, it wasn’t.  

Today she takes medication for AF, and she knows medication will likely be part of her life forever.  

But she’s been reassured, it’s manageable, and it won’t kill her. The focus now is finding the right medication balance. 

Adjusting her life 

Recovering meant rethinking everyday habits. She’s more aware of what heart-healthy eating looks like, and she’s made gentle changes like getting outside more often for walks.  

At first, she was scared to go walking alone, especially in the bush, in case something happened. Over time, she’s learned to trust that the surgery fixed the major issue, and she really is safe. 

She and her partner have recently decided that the time was right to sell the motels and move closer to family in Dunedin.  

Her father has been diagnosed with dementia, and her mother needs her. It is also closer to her children and grandchildren, and she is excited about this next phase of life. 

“Something like this really makes you think about what’s important in life,” 

Support and strength 

Karen has her partner, who’s always ready to listen. Her GP has been a huge support too, someone she can see quickly when she needs reassurance. 

She has utilised the Heart Foundation’s resources too. “I have spent a lot of time on the website reading about others going through a similar experience.” 

But even with support, she’s honest: “It’s not easy, no. It certainly isn’t.” 

What she wishes others knew 

Karen encourages others going through something similar to research and ask questions, lots of them.  

“Get as much support as you can around you,” she reflects as she acknowledges the emotional side of her recovery. 

“I honestly thought I was going into the surgery, and everything would just be fine. And it was fine, but it’s a real journey. Sixteen months on, and it still is a journey.”