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Walking the dog helped my heart

Tom Rowley
28/ 6/2006

THEY say a dog is a man's best friend and Harvey the golden retriever is definitely so for Stephen Barnes.

The Hadfield dad-of-two is recovering from a heart transplant after being diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, a heart condition affecting only two in 10,000 Britons each year.

Stephen, 45, of Padfield Main Road, said: "My wife Caroline bought Harvey two months before my operation.

"I was sitting around the house and my weight went up to 130kg (18st). The surgeon advised me to lose around 20kg (3st) before the operation.

"I took Harvey around the local reservoir once a day - which is about two-and-a-half miles. He was great company and a reason to get out of the house."

Stephen's condition meant his heart had become enlarged, with the right side crushing his lung, giving him breathing difficulties.

He was diagnosed in May 2003, with doctors reckoning a virus had caused the condition. It can be fatal and death can occur at any time - Manchester City footballer Marc Vivien Foe died from it while playing for his country Cameroon in 2003.

"I just feel so lucky," said Stephen, who underwent a seven-hour operation on 1 May,

Three days later he was walking and returned home after only 18 days.

His illness meant he had to close down the family-owned upholstery business.

"My uncle started Acorn Upholstery in 1963. I began working for him in 1976 when I was 15 and was used to working six day weeks, but I starting needing more and more time off.

"I had to close the business in May 2005 and it was one of the lowest times of my life."

However, he hopes to enrol at Tameside College on a reflexology/massage course in September.

"I'm skilled with my hands so I thought this would be a new career for me and my way of helping others. I'm also looking forward to getting back on the golf course in the next 12 months."

Stephen attended Oldham Carnival at the weekend to promote New Start, a charity raising funds for a scanner at Wythenshawe Hospital, where Stephen was the 420th transplant patient.

Folk wanting to help can ring them on 0161 945 2166.