A cardiac surgeon and his patient have cycled side by side from London to Brighton, completing the iconic 55-mile challenge to raise awareness for heart health and the ongoing drive to improve patient care.
Mr Ishtiaq Ahmed, Consultant Cardiac Surgeon, was part of a 25-strong team of surgeons, nurses and patients, championing better patient care and innovation in cardiothoracic surgery – operating on the heart, lungs and other chest organs.
As well as riding with his team, he was able to ride alongside his patient, Phill, who had undergone a mitral valve repair – treating a leak in the heart valve that stops blood flowing the wrong way.
Mr Ahmed said: “To ride alongside Phill was an experience we promised each other even before he had his mitral valve surgery. It was a privilege to share the journey with him and to chat through the miles we cycled. To see how well he had recovered was a testament to his drive and passion to recover and to trust the process we put in place.
“It will be a ride I remember for many years especially as it finishes on the south coast where we are both based.”
Phill Read, 48, from Lancing is a keen cyclist who led a very active lifestyle, cycling up to 100 miles a week.
The father of three’s life changed in February 2020, when Phill was diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation (AF), a type of heart rhythm problem where your heartbeat is not steady, as well as a leaking mitral valve that required surgery.
Phill first met Mr Ahmed during a quiet Christmas Eve cardiac clinic where the pair bonded over their shared interest of cycling after seeing the surgeon arrive in his gear – sparking a conversation that made a lasting impact.
Phill explained: “I was naturally nervous and concerned about what was happening next with my treatment. But suddenly we had this common interest, and I was able to get comfortable before talking about the valve. It helped put my mind at ease and relax. Once the conversation got serious, I trusted him more and it made my experience ten times better.”
Following a successful mitral valve repair, Phill endured a long recovery. While in ICU, he set himself a personal goal: to one day ride alongside Mr Ahmed.
Phill said: “That was a goal I always had, and it was just seeing how we could make it work because I thought if the ride happened, it would be a real moment to cherish as well as providing inspiration to others at the same time.”
This year, the dream became a reality. Through Mr Ahmed, Phill became involved with Heart Valve Voice, a charity dedicated to improving diagnosis and treatment of heart valve disease, for which Mr Ahmed is an ambassador and where Phill now proudly serves as Chair. When the charity partnered with the Society of Cardiothoracic Surgery (SCTS) — of which Mr Ahmed is a member — the long-awaited ride finally happened.
Phill said: “It was an amazing feeling riding along with Ish. It has been four years since my surgery, and a plan that was hatched then has finally happened. I hope that this story can inspire others and provide them with reassurance, and I believe that amazing things can happen after heart valve surgery.”
Although the pair were separated before the finish line, they reunited to celebrate their achievement. Phill’s wife, Sacha, even surprised him at the finish where he crossed the line in 4 hours 45 minutes and raised more than £1,000 for Heart Valve Voice.
Mr Ahmed said: “Heart health is important, and early diagnosis is key to enabling patients to access the range of treatment options available, which include, catheter-based options, minimal access surgery and conventional surgery. In addition, sharing patients’ stories like Phill’s enables the community to understand that timely intervention enables patients to continue to live an active life.”
Mr Ahmed, who leads the mitral valve service at Royal Sussex County Hospital, has championed the introduction of minimal access surgery within the service which performs around 7,000 adult cases a year, including Atrial Fibrillation (AF) surgery, major aortic surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass (heart-lung bypass) surgery.
Driven by a commitment to innovation and patient-centred care, the team continues to improve treatment and outcomes for patients with heart conditions, just like Phill.