“Thank you for mending my broken heart”
That’s the euphoric first line of a new song written in tribute to the Glenfield Hospital team who cared for Wilby Meadows before, during and after his triple heart bypass operation.
After the successful procedure, Wilby – a Northamptonshire musician with 50 years’ experience of writing, recording and performing, both in the UK and abroad – was inspired to produce ‘Heartfelt’ to share his ‘enormous gratitude’ to everyone at the hospital who was involved with his care.
“Recording ‘Heartfelt’ was loads of fun. It will take time for me to get back to full fitness, but I’ll keep writing, recording and releasing songs. The music will continue”, Wilby said.
Wilby first realised he was unwell the morning after a gig, when he found himself struggling to breathe while walking uphill. He was referred to the Glenfield Hospital by colleagues at Kettering General Hospital following an angiogram, after his test results showed that immediate surgery was needed.
Heart bypass surgery is an operation to improve blood flow to the heart. It involves using healthy blood vessels taken from another part of the body to get round (bypass) a narrowed or blocked artery.
The operation was carried out by Consultant Cardiac Surgeon, Mr Marios Patronis and his team, on 4 March. Wilby was safely discharged on 10 March – the day after his birthday – after receiving care on Wards 26 and 31.
“It was an intense experience, but so finely tuned. Everybody knew what they needed to do, and they were so impressive”, said Wilby.
“I knew that I was in good hands with Mr Patronis, and had no doubts at all that I would come out of it better. The staff made me feel like there was nothing to worry about, because they exuded confidence at every level.
“I had a real laugh with the nurses, domestic assistants, and health care assistants, who were brilliant. They all looked after me as if I was the only person in the hospital.
“I wrote the song to let them know how much I enjoyed the experience of being cared for by them.”
Wilby is now recovering at home, and will be completing a course of physiotherapy at Kettering General Hospital. He played most of the instruments on ‘Heartfelt’ himself, but was supported by his nephew Ben Hood, who plays lead guitar.
The song starts with the sound of a heart beat and bleeping heart monitor, before Wilby sings: “I can feel my heart beat stronger than before.”
And after leaving hospital, his emotions are summed up simply by the song’s final line:
“Thank you Glenfield, this is heartfelt”
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) is a leading provider of cardiac care in the UK. Our award-winning cardiology service is home to renowned experts in the field, and has delivered several UK and worldwide firsts for advances in patient care. The clinical service is linked to internationally recognised research in cardiovascular diseases, undertaken in partnership with the University of Leicester.
You can listen to Wilby’s song on Amazon Music.