Posts

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An Evening of Soul with Andre Smith

Join us on FRIDAY 1ST MAY 2020 for an Evening of Soul with Andre Smith! WHERE: ST JOHNS CONSERVATIVE CLUB, KIRBY ST, IPSWICH (Get Directions) TIME: 19:00 - Till Late TICKETS: £5 P/P - Admits One Adult Purchase tickets via email to: Lynn.downson5@icloud.com…
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Travel information

This leaflet gives information on travelling for adults who were born with a heart condition (congenital heart condition). Having a congenital heart condition doesn’t mean you can’t travel but it may require a bit of advance planning. It…
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Lifestyle issues

This leaflet is designed to provide you with advice on some lifestyle choices and issues that may be related to your heart condition. The aim of the leaflet is to provide you with information so you can make the decisions for yourself. Download…
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Coping With Medical Procedures

Written by Dr Sara O'Curry, Chartered Clinical Psychologist Who wouldn't get anxious before a medical procedure? Biologically speaking, a procedure is a threat (someone moving towards you with a sharp object) and we are designed to respond…
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Emotional and Mental Health Resources

Emotional and Mental Health Resources Here are a selection of articles and resources that address some of the emotional and mental health challenges that can arise for people designed to help with living with congenital heart disease. For additional…
Baby holding mothers hands in a heart shape
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Born with a Heart condition

What is a congenital heart condition? Congenital means 'from birth'. A congenital heart condition is an abnormality of the heart that has been present from birth. A congenital heart condition is sometimes also called 'congenital heart disease'…
First Heart Transplant

50th Anniversary of the first Heart Transplant

Image Courtesy of health24 Fifty years ago, the first human heart transplant was performed in South Africa. Louis Washkansky, 53, was terminally ill with heart failure. The donor, Denise Darvall, was just 25. She suffered a fatal brain injury…
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Joanne's Great Trek

I was only in the car for a few minutes when I heard the advert on the radio for a trek on the Great Wall of China with Charity Challenge. I was instantly curious... was I brave enough?  I figured there was only one way to find out and only…
Marathon runners
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Michelle's Great North Run

Michelle has been working hard to raise funds for The Somerville Foundation all the way through 2017. Altogether, Michelle raised over £1,300, which will allow us to continue to provide invaluable support to congenital heart patients, their…
Roseberry Topping Image by Steven Iceton
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Pauline's Roseberry Topping Challenge

Image Courtesy of Steven Iceton Living with a heart condition has always been a challenge and this has had its ups and downs. Since discovering The Somerville Foundation a number of years ago, I have received a lot of help and advice from…
Walking boots
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Walking in Gramps Footsteps

After being diagnosed with what appeared to be an innocent heart murmur as a child, Helen Witt did not think she would find herself facing open-heart surgery in her 40s. “I was born with a heart murmur, but it was never treated as the doctors…
Marathon runners
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Two Heart Surgeries, Four Marathons

Anna Borghesani was born with pulmonary stenosis, a congenital heart defect where the flow of blood between the heart and lungs is restricted by a deformity on or near the pulmonary valve. "One big thick scar, covered by another thinner scar,…
Marathon runners
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James' Remarkable Run

On the 4th of October my girlfriend, Issy, underwent open-heart surgery at St Bart’s Hospital. This was to treat an atrial septal defect, or more commonly known as a hole in her heart. Issy had been unaware of this issue until a few years…
Trainers with heart shape made from laces
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Thank You Melissa

Melissa Mullan has decided to take on the challenge of The Royal Parks Half Marathon on Sunday 9th October 2016 to raise much needed funds for The Somerville Foundation, to help us to continue to support young people and adults born with a heart…
Red fabric Hearts next to a compter
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Help us raise awareness

The best way to raise awareness for The Somerville Foundation and CHD is through videos – and we need your help! We need you to make us a short video that can be published on our website and social media platforms. It doesn’t have to…
five diverse women holding a sign saying 'Together'
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Thank You

There were all sorts of fantastic awareness raising activities going on all over the U.K. this CHD Awareness Week, all aiming to raise awareness for The Somerville Foundation and the wonderful people we work to support. We’d like to say…
INGA Wellbeing Gown
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INGA Wellbeing

UPDATE: INGA WELLBEING IS NO LONGER TRADING We are delighted to announce that we are currently working with INGA Wellbeing to ensure that adult congenital heart disease patients have the opportunity to wear comfortable clothes that look entirely…
zetasafe and the somerville foundation
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IBC Charity of the Year

We are delighted to have been chosen as one of Ipswich Borough Councils charities for 2019. Being a chosen charity allows us to attend IBC managed events and collect donations. We will be attending Ipswich Music Day, held inside Christchurch…

Scottish Standards Review

Scottish Standards Review The Somerville Foundation appointed me as their (voluntary) Campaign Manager in Scotland after seeing me present evidence to The Scottish Public Petitions Committee at the Scottish Parliament in 2012. I had submitted…
GDPR

GDPR Update

The Somerville Foundation Legitimate interests Statement The Somerville Foundation has been working hard to comply with the new General Data Protection Regulations to ensure that you have full access to our services and that all your data…
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Contraception for Women with a Heart Condition

There are several types of contraception available that work in different ways, and some also provide protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In this leaflet we will hopefully provide you with information so you know which…
Nurse listening to young female patient's heart
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A Guide to Adult Cardiac Care (Transition)

Growing up can be an exciting time, with many changes and opportunities; a first job, going to university, new friends and new relationships. It will also mean that at some point, when are you are between the ages of 16 and 18 years, you will…
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Personal Health Passport

Personal Health Passport For your own pocket-sized copy of our Personal Health Passport, contact admin@thesf.org.uk or call The Somerville Foundation office on 01473 252007. Download Personal Health Passport PDF
Fabric hearts being held in hands
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What will survive of us is love

Yesterday, I went to the wedding of a very dear friend. He’s not a friend I see often, but somehow, despite neither of us not being very good at keeping in touch these days, we have remained friends. The wedding invitation was quite possibly…
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Vertical and horizontal

In Come Dance With Me, by Russell Hoban (again), one of the characters, a doctor, makes an interesting observation about the doctor-patient relationship, imparted to him by his predecessor at the hospital: ‘It’s a matter of the vertical vis-a-vis the…
hands holding a small red heart
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The story of my heart

Is that a song title? It might be. Anyway, I still haven’t even started writing my GUCH story, and only 33 (? maths isn’t my strong point)days until the deadline.  Actually, that is quite a while, maybe that’s why I haven’t started…

Wisdom tooth

I had my third wisdom tooth out yesterday. The local anaesthetic injections were the worst bit. I didn’t cry as much as when I had the filling in June. I kept the tooth, although now I’m not sure what to do with it. Wisdom Teeth by Taryn…
Patient lying down in a hospital bed

Great expectations? How experience of chronic ill health affects what we expect

This post is about: how experience of chronic illness affects how and what people with chronic ill health expect of themselves and their experiences (particularly medical interventions) what expectations ‘healthy’ people have of…
zetasafe and the somerville foundation
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The Somerville Foundation partners with Zetasafe

ZetaSafe, global leader in quality, safety, compliance and data solutions is delighted to announce its’ new partnership with the UK’s only dedicated congenital heart charity, The Somerville Foundation. Managing Director of ZetaSafe, Andrew…