Hello, I’m Paula Henderson, a grateful member of HeartLife — Community Support for Heart Patients and Caregivers.
Lived Experience With Heart Failure
I was born with a congenital heart disease called Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy (HOCM). My mother had it, and so did her mother — my grandma passed away suddenly at age 56 from cardiac arrest. HOCM means my heart muscle is too thick, making it difficult for my heart to pump.
As a child, I ran on school teams and often felt short of breath, but I assumed I was just out of shape. Although doctors occasionally mentioned hearing a murmur, I never received follow-up testing, so I believed there was nothing to worry about.
That changed in 2008, when my family doctor noticed the murmur had grown louder and referred me to a cardiologist. By 2010, at age 55, I was experiencing daily symptoms — shortness of breath and fluid overload. Medications weren’t working, so I underwent my first open-heart surgery, a septal myectomy to relieve the obstruction.
Unfortunately, my symptoms didn’t improve, and an MRI later revealed the surgery had been unsuccessful. In 2012, I underwent a second open-heart surgery at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre in Toronto. After surgery, I went into cardiac arrest and was thankfully revived. The next eight years were managed with medication and many hospital visits. It was a tough road.
The Road to Surgery and Recovery
In 2020, my health worsened again. Both my aortic and mitral valves were severely leaking. Doctors assessed me for a heart transplant, but because of my blood type and antibodies, the wait would have been close to a year — and my heart couldn’t wait that long.
Instead, I had a third open-heart surgery to replace both valves with mechanical ones. This was during the height of COVID-19, before vaccines were available. While recovering, I contracted COVID in the hospital and suffered a collapsed lung. I needed puffers to help me breathe, and I still use them daily due to long-COVID.
Today, I continue to be closely monitored at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre. Every morning I use an app called Medly to log my blood pressure, heart rate, weight, and symptoms. My heart failure team sees the data in real time and calls me if anything looks concerning. As someone who lives alone, this technology feels like an extra set of eyes watching over me — and I am so grateful for it.
Becoming an Advocate
Since 2021, I’ve become involved in patient engagement and research. I’ve contributed to focus groups, speaking engagements, and advocacy with:
- HeartLife Foundation
- Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research
- University Health Network
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research
- Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada
- Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance
- Canadian Heart Failure Alliance
Through these opportunities, I’ve grown as an advocate and connected with communities that truly feel like “my people.” Online support groups have also been invaluable — spaces where I’ve learned from others’ experiences and shared my own. And through it all, my son Patrick has been my caregiver and my rock ❤️.
Facing a Stroke
On May 29, 2025, I suffered an occipital ischemic stroke. I lost sight in my right peripheral vision and can no longer drive. It’s been difficult to process, but through my advocacy I’ve learned how closely the brain and heart are connected. It wasn’t a complete shock, and I’m grateful to now be in a stroke recovery program. I still hold hope that one day I may regain what I’ve lost.
Moving Forward With Resilience
Managing heart failure is a daily challenge, but I am motivated to keep going — for myself and for others. I want to continue engaging in research and advocacy, and I truly hope to make a positive difference for people living with cardiovascular conditions.
The hardest challenges often bring opportunities for growth. Along my journey, I’ve met so many resilient heart and brain heroes whose strength inspires me.
I’ve learned this: the human spirit is resilient.
We can live full lives with gratitude, community, and a positive spirit — even in the face of adversity. But we can’t do it alone. Find your people. Connect, share, grow, and learn. Resilience will blossom.
✨ At HeartLife, we’re honoured to share Paula’s story — a reminder of the strength, resilience, and hope that define our community.
