Survivor Survey – Feeling

Q: What does it feel like to be a survivor?

Can you briefly summarise your feeling at having survived an event where most do not

Responses with name, age at SCA and time since

Lucky to be alive unlucky that it happened at all.

Graeme,  36, 10 years

Guilty because I survived and so many friends haven’t

Lisa,  40, 7 years

Both lucky and unlucky, healthy and unhealthy…but finally, glad

Andy,  51, 5 years

I know how lucky I am that I was in the right place at the right time and it wasnt my time. Sometimes I cant believe it really happened but I know it did as I have an ICD, I know I feel different physically and mentally. When I cant do something I could do in the past eg. multi task remembering etc. I think is it normal eg. aging or SCA.

Robyn,  57, 18 months

I feel lucky to have been given a second chance

Dawn,  48, 3 years

Strange. Mine happened at home approx 6am. Every day I wake up is a blessing Always a worry. Most friends have given me a wide birth since my SCA

Joanne,  48, 23 months

Extremely lucky!

Natasha,  25, 4.5 years

Privileged

Lynne,  47, 21 months

I’m so happy to be here!! I love life x

Sue,  51, 8 months

I am more relaxed

Pat,  51, 15 months

I feel lucky to have survived but still anxious as it’s early days!

Joe,  52, 4 weeks

Indifferent at best.

Anon,  36, 11 years

Lucky!

Clare,  31, Almost 5 months.

Lucky and grateful

Stewart,  53, 3 years

Very lucky

Anon,  70, 10 months

Extremely fortunate but life changing event

Kym,  40, 3 years

Mixed feelings. Obviously feel very fortunate and blessed but also guilty.

Mark,  56, 14 months

It’s a lot to take in but as time goes by, it’s a lot easier to deal with and I find myself to be very lucky.

Imogen,  21, 2 years

I am eternally grateful for my 2nd chance at life. I would never have seen 2 of my children get married nor the birth of my 3 grandchidren. My wife and I have recently celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary, as well. Impossible to put a value on all that, is it not?

Mark,  46, 23 years

Lucky , and fortunate for being given a second chance. Sometimes sad for the life changed , sometimes anxious .

Michelle,  50, 1 year

Bit surreal really. I was lucky i was on an operating table when i had my event. Dont know anything about it, just that they took 30 seconds to get me back.

Anon,  56, 15 months

Thankful

Maureen,  68, 7 years

Very lucky to be where I was at the time of my SCA. Still can’t believe I’m still here and survived it.

Lee,  37, 5 1/2 years

Very lucky

Michelle,  43, 5 years

Living from day to day!

Brenden,  56, 4 years

Extremely thankful, can’t put into words

Carly,  34, 1 month

Angry at times but lucky

Anon,  70, 10 months

My lifestyle has slowed down immensely.

Lisa,  40, 7 years

I don’t class myself as a survivor. I was extremely lucky. My own GP was driving to work and saw me collapse on the pavement. He stopped his car and started CPR.

Amy,  17, 14 years

Surreal. But I feel more vunreable.

Lisa,  35, 4 months

Very lucky and thankful and a desire to do everything there is to do and value life, family and friends

Julie,  31, 8 years

Relief and guilt

Tracy,  50, 3 years

Strange, I feel different to everyone else in some way

Judy,  39, 3 years

Truly amazing…. better odds to win the lottery, forever in debt to my wife lifesaver

Ben,  32, 1 year 2 months

Proud, happy, scared, worried

Pat,  51, 15 months

Bewildering…eternally grateful!

Michelle,  42, 4 years