Kenya McAdam and Eddie Masina are both rheumatic heart disease survivors living in Australia. Kenya had open heart surgery when she was just 15 years old. Eddie had his first open heart surgery even younger at the age of 12 years old. Kenya and Eddie share their thoughts on ways doctors and nurses can improve their services when treating people with rheumatic heart disease.
Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is damage to one or more heart valves that remains after an episode of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is resolved. It is caused by an episode or recurrent episodes of ARF, where the heart has become inflamed. The heart valves can remain stretched and/or scarred, and normal blood flow through damaged valves is interrupted. Blood may flow backward through stretched valves that do not close properly, or may be blocked due to scarred valves not opening properly. When the heart is damaged in this way, the heart valves are unable to function adequately, and heart surgery may be required.
