Broadcaster Emma Willis has revealed she was diagnosed with a hole in her heart last year, a condition she unknowingly lived with for 48 years. The 49-year-old discovered the atrial septal defect during a routine health check in January, which also showed an enlarged heart.
The congenital condition was successfully closed via keyhole surgery at London's Royal Brompton Hospital two months later. Willis described the diagnosis as 'floored' and 'a bolt out of the blue', adding that the mental shift was the biggest challenge.
Willis is now championing a British Heart Foundation (BHF) campaign to raise awareness of heart conditions. As part of the campaign, she met Aimee Nicholls, who has a hole in the heart, and her son Leo, eight, who also has congenital heart disease. Leo underwent open heart surgery at just one week old.
Willis also spoke to Michelle White, a mother of three who has had 13 different heart procedures, including two open-heart surgeries and a pacemaker fitting. White said she refuses to let fear define her.
The BHF is unveiling 65 red benches across the UK, each bearing the name of a heart condition survivor. Dr Charmaine Griffiths, BHF chief executive, thanked Willis and the others for sharing their stories to help fund lifesaving research.
