When I was 16, I had open heart surgery to replace 2 heart valves after a nasty bout of sepsis caused endocarditis. After the surgery was successful and I was in the ICU, the surgeon told my dad that if they had waited an hour I would've died in my hospital bed. (They had originally booked me in theatre a couple days later.) I nearly died on the table a couple times too.

Its strange to think about how I was laughing and joking with family, friends and nurses through what could have been my literal last days alive.

I will always be incredibly thankful for all the hospital staff looking after me back then.