Andrew Moore, a pillar of his community, depicted his harrowing experience with sudden cardiac arrest. His deeply personal and moving remarks to family and friends swept up all the attendees. The whole ordeal played out over the course of several weeks. She wrote about the new normal of sudden fits of stupor, heavy-duty medicine and relentless care of family and friends. Moore’s story, as it turns out, is an excellent reminder of how delicate life is. It highlights the essential contribution of clinicians and other healthcare professionals to the recovery continuum.
Moore’s scariest episodes were the four times he would go from wide awake to being completely unconscious in seconds. These incidents happened three times in front of his family, and all of that established an environment filled with fear and apprehension. On one especially bad morning, he ate his breakfast and then… Then, he went to the hospital for a cascade of procedures.
The Medical Journey
After arriving at the hospital, Moore faced a cascade of medical tragedies that furthered deteriorated his recovery. He admitted to several surgical procedures, episodes with blood clots, a delay in treatment, and variability in blood pressure. On top of these challenges, he received a diagnosis for diabetes, complicating an already difficult situation. Even with these obstacles, Moore slowly started to regain a sense of normalcy.
Looking back on his experiences in the coronary ward, Moore spoke about how close he got with the nursing staff. He called them his “angels,” speaking to the deep relationship that was formed over his eight-hour shifts with them in his care. This dynamic transformed into their critical source of solace, laughter, and relief from the unknowns surrounding his turbulent medical odyssey.
While Moore was in the hospital, his brain was running what he referred to as “strange tricks. These games put him through a severe mental and emotional gauntlet that really challenged his mettle. He can still remember the heart-stopping moment that chest compressions brought him back to life. In that moment, he started to scream, “This is me, this is real. These instances were pivotal in recognizing the seriousness of his illness and lighting the fire of his desire to heal.
Family Support
Family support would become a key piece of Moore’s recovery journey. His sister was his rock while he was in the hospital, giving him moral support when it was needed most. His old parents came by all the time, providing love and old country to armor. These visits from his children, Archie and Eliza, were a source of joy and inspiration as he muscled through dark days.
Moore’s family was deeply involved in his recovery story. On one Sunday, he was about to make an announcement and felt all “off”-commentating at Parramatta Stadium. By the next day, he decided to take a sick day. Yet, this important decision signaled the start of a health crisis that would ultimately force him to start pursuing medical attention himself. It was the constant presence of his family during this turbulent time that kept him grounded and allowed him to overcome and push through adversities.
Joining her at the door and festooning baby Moore’s new home with handmade banners, balloons and flowers were representatives of Moore’s community. His daughter Eliza made sure their house was a welcoming, colorful place for the celebration. She decorated it with balloons and banners, celebrating not just his return, but their triumph over hard times.
A New Perspective
Though Moore’s experience hasn’t been easy, it has given him a newfound appreciation for life and health. Yet, after going through four surgeries throughout his hospital experience, he gained physical stature. What he lost in physical stability, he made up for in newfound wisdom about connection and the resilience of the human spirit. Through it all, the scary episodes he experienced during his stay in the cardiac ward were jarring reminders of life’s unpredictability.
Now as Moore is still in the process of recuperating, he shares how this harrowing experience has influenced his approach to health and well-being. At once vulnerable and hopeful, he understands that setbacks—even when life delivers the challenges—are truly conduits to growth and transformation. His nursing staff at Westmead exhibited him amazing compassion. From their care, I learned the essential role of empathy in healthcare.
