Intensive Care Week - Kelvin's story
This Intensive Care Week (7-13 September 2026), we would like to share with you Kelvin's story.
What first felt like an ordinary day for Kelvin quickly became his worst nightmare. Kelvin, a loving Dad and husband from Rhyl, North Wales, was getting ready for work when he suddenly felt a severe pain in his chest. He said:
“The pain gradually got worse and my wife, Jodie, called for an ambulance because I was very distressed. The paramedic arrived and told my wife my blood pressure was very low. I was dipping in and out of consciousness.
“Then, I was rushed me to my local hospital where my family were told there was a 40% chance I would survive. I needed urgent specialist surgery and was transferred by ambulance to Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital.
“My wife and family were told to prepare for the worst because my aorta had split all the way from the top, where the bend is, and most of the way down. I needed emergency aortic surgery, which was expected to be 10 hours long, but ended up lasting about 15 hours.”
After his surgery, completed by LHCH Consultant Aortic Surgeon, Mr Jakub Marczak and clinical team, Kelvin was brought to the Intensive Care Unit within the Critical Care Unit, to continue his recovery. He said:
“Whilst I was on Intensive Care Unit for 20 days, I was put in an induced coma. My wife and my dad had such amazing support, and the team kept Jodie updated all the time, whatever was happening to me. They were great at keeping in touch.
“The whole team in Intensive Care were amazing and are such heroes of mine!
“I also can’t thank my surgeon, Mr Marczak enough for saving my life and all the team involved in my care.
“It was wonderful to visit the Critical Care Team who looked after me so well and to be able to shake Mr Marczak’s hand to personally thank him (pictured). It made my day!
“The day I came home from hospital, I heard my little lad say ‘that’s my daddy coming home’ which broke my heart.
“I feel fine now. I am back home now with my family and chance to see my wife and kids again. I’m so grateful to all the team at LHCH for making this possible.”
You can watch Kelvin's patient story using the link below.
