A grandmother has been given a “second life opportunity” after undergoing an operation of the world’s heart valve.
Julia Butterworth, 53, had two heart valves replaced in 2007 after doctors detected a murmur in the organ.
Despite being monitored, the Gran-Off Four underwent another operation in 2022 to replace two more valves, and a third was considered “irreparable.”
In July last year, he began to experience fatigue and breath, and the doctors gave the news that any valve replacement “was not adequate” as he entered into heart failure.
Julia and her husband, Michael Butterworth, began to “prepare for their funeral”, since doctors throughout the United Kingdom told them that nothing else could be done.
However, the Leeds General InfirMary medical team refused to surrender and began to look for an alternative treatment.
The consultant on the team, Dr. Chris Malkin, thought there could be a solution using a particular type of valve that was available in a company in India.
They contacted medical professionals around the world to see if someone could help and later that month, a cardiologist flew from Denmark.
Dr. Malkin and the medical team imported and modified the valve in a “first world” and carried out a pioneering lock eye surgery in their heart in September 2024.
Although the operation had never been performed before, it was a success, and eight months-Later, Julia is at home and recovered well.
“It was a first procedure in the world,” said El Dorado, the West York resident. “I was not afraid of the operation, I think it was the unknown. My inspiration was to recover well for my family and for my grandchildren: they were there in my thoughts all the time. One day I was planning my funeral and the next I was thinking about my future.”
Julia first had two of her heart valves replaced in 2007.
In 2012, he also began to experience problems with his renal function and underwent a transplant three years later, with his father as his living donor.
In 2022, two of their heart valves were replaced again and she says that a third was considered “irreparable.”
Last July, Julia, who has chronic kidney disease, was admitted to LGI, where doctors looked at their kidneys and their heart.
Julia had a problem with her tricuspid valve and the type of replacements that were available were not suitable for her, as they had been in the past with her other heart valves.
She was told around August 2024 that doctors “nothing more” in the United Kingdom could do and Christmas was “far from guaranteeing.”
“We were numb and we didn’t know what to do. It was annoying,” said Butterworth’s husband Michael. “The end of life team was called.”
Dr. Malkin, consultant of Leeds teaching hospitals, thought there was a solution with a valve made by a company in India.
He put the “feelings” to doctors worldwide, and heard back from the colleagues of Denmark who thought that using it was “feasible.”
The operation was considered “high risk”, since it had never been done before, but Julia and Michael agreed that it was the best option when he entered a multiorgan failure.
“Once my family was happy with that, it made it easier to be more concentrated and positive about it,” Butterworth added. “I had nothing to really lose. I have been bad for a long time and I have always had a positive perspective and attitude.”
The valve imported and modified and the doctors carried out lock eye surgery.
During the procedure, they discovered that they would need to use an additional valve and place one inside.
The surgery was successful and Julia was awake and walked in a few days.
Dr. Kate Gatenby, another Leeds consultant who was part of the team involved in Julia’s surgery and attention, says she is “delighted” that Julia is fine.
“We have gone from someone who was tied to bed, with a really limited life expectancy, who was in the hospital most of the time, to someone who now walks, is fine and capable of spending time at home with her grandchildren,” said Dr. Gatenby. “The number of people who have been involved in Julia’s care is a real story of collaboration and teamwork.”
The couple has only gratitude towards the personnel involved in the care of Julia, and towards those who gave them hugs and support for the family.
“Now I am at home and everything has gone well,” Butterworth added. “I often think, especially when there are times like Mother’s Day, which might not have been here to see this and see my grandchildren. I am very grateful to the NHS for everything they have done.”
