A NORTH Belfast woman who survived a major heart attack aged just 36, will take on the Belfast City Half Marathon this weekend to raise funds for British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland
Christine McNicholl, who turned 40 this month, had a heart attack in April 2022 when her daughter Lucy was only six months old.
Now, after rebuilding her confidence through rehabilitation, walking and running, she is preparing to complete the 13.1-mile race in support of lifesaving cardiovascular research.
Christine had a family history of heart disease – one uncle died suddenly aged 42, while an aunt and another uncle had undergone triple heart bypass surgery. Despite this, she had experienced no known heart problems herself.
On the day of her heart attack, Christine felt unusually tired and nauseous and developed upper-back pain and flu-like symptoms. Later that night, she began vomiting, had a high temperature and struggled to catch her breath. When pain then spread into her left arm, her husband Barry — who had previously worked with St John Ambulance — suspected something more serious.
Christine was taken to Antrim Hospital where she remembers being exhausted and in severe pain. An ECG prompted staff to act immediately. Christine was transferred by ambulance to the cardiac cath lab at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, where doctors found a complete blockage in a main coronary artery. She underwent a procedure lasting around 90 minutes and had a stent fitted.
Christine said: “The doctor told me I had suffered a major heart attack and that I was very lucky. The hospital later told Barry that, if I had not arrived within an hour, I probably would not have made it.
“The hardest part afterwards was getting my head around what had happened and learning to trust my body again. I received counselling from a clinical psychologist and completed cardiac rehabilitation at Antrim Area Hospital. The support from my cardiac rehab nurse and from other patients was brilliant, but recovery was much longer than I expected.”
Determined to regain her strength, Christine bought a treadmill and began walking every day. After cardiac rehabilitation, she joined a specialist exercise referral programme and later accepted a friend’s invitation to try Couch to 5K.
She said: “I had never run before, but I got the running bug. It has been brilliant for me mentally and physically. I started doing parkruns, completed my first 5K race and then a 10K, and finished the Hillsborough Half Marathon in two hours and nine minutes as preparation for Belfast.
“Barry and I have been given a fresh perspective on life. Our daughter Lucy started primary school this month and feel so lucky as I might not have been here.
Christine, Barry and Lucy
“Taking on this race as I turn 40 feels incredibly special as BHF is very close to my heart. I want to give back to an amazing charity who have helped me physically and mentally through a challenging time and help fund research so more families can have more time together.”
Christine still experiences tiredness and attends annual consultant appointments, but she says running has strengthened both her body and her mind.
Orla Copeland, Fundraising Manager BHF NI, said: “Christine’s determination is truly inspiring. To go from surviving a major heart attack at 36 to taking on the Belfast Half Marathon shows extraordinary courage and resilience.
"Every mile she runs and every pound she raises will help power lifesaving research into heart and circulatory diseases. We are incredibly grateful to Christine and everyone who supports her, and Team BHF will be cheering her all the way to the finish line.”
You can support Christine’s fundraising for BHF NI here.
