British Heart Foundation

Megan's page

Megan Craven

Megan Craven

My Story

In 2025, I’ll be running not just one, but two major events — the London Marathon in April and, since I didn’t think I’d get a spot there, I signed up for the Great North Run in September. I guess I’m doing both!

I will run to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation and increase awareness of Infective Endocarditis, a rare condition that unexpectedly turned our lives upside-down.

At the end of 2023, we welcomed our first child, Nora, into the world. We were adjusting to life as new parents — sleep-deprived, overwhelmed, and filled with joy — until everything changed in January. Toby, my husband, suddenly became very unwell. After over six weeks of worsening symptoms, while still juggling fatherhood and work, a heart murmur was detected during his second GP appointment. Initially, it had been dismissed as flu.

Toby was sent straight to A&E, where he was diagnosed with an advanced case of Infective Endocarditis — a serious infection in the mitral valve of his heart. He spent the next four weeks in the hospital, battling the infection before the medical team could repair whatever lasting damage there was to the valve. Unfortunately, the damage to his heart was too severe for repair, and on the day Nora turned 3 months old underwent urgent open-heart surgery to replace his mitral valve with a mechanical one.

The nursing team at Castle Hill Hospital were incredible. They made special arrangements so that Nora and I could visit Toby daily, allowing us to stay close as a family through such a difficult time. Thanks to their expertise and Toby’s resilience, his surgery was successful, and after months of recovery, he’s on the path to getting his life back, now equipped with his new “shiny” mechanical valve.

Recovery from open-heart surgery was no walk in the park. The physical toll was immense, and the emotional weight even heavier. Toby had to rebuild his strength slowly, while also navigating the mental strain of such a life-altering event, especially while we also tried to keep a tiny human alive. We couldn’t have made it through without the incredible support of friends and family.

As this was such an unexpected journey for us, we weren’t prepared for what lay ahead. Finding out about major heart surgery just days before it happened didn’t give us much time to process what was coming.

Toby had no prior heart issues, and doctors told us it was simply "sheer bad luck" that he developed endocarditis (and even worse timing)! The experience was terrifying, and like many, I was both overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information on the internet and also desperate for more answers. That's where the BHF came in and the reason I am donning my running shoes:

Infective Endocarditis is a rare condition and can often be misdiagnosed, due to symptoms overlapping with other less serious conditions. The BHF works to increase awareness of Infective Endocarditis to help reduce cases of misdiagnosis.
The BHF is the biggest funder of research into heart and circulatory diseases in Europe, without which the currently available treatments and expected prognosis for Toby could have been very different. They also offer information and resources to help healthcare professionals deliver best practice in care for patients.
During Toby's treatment, I spent many nights awake alone at home, feeling in the dark about Toby's illness and struggling with thoughts of the potential outcomes. The BHF resources, advice and real-life patient stories offered clarity about his condition and treatment — providing comfort and hope in some of my darkest hours.
Despite the best efforts of the NHS, most of the information on recovery was tailored for much older patients. This left us in the the dark about what Toby's recovery would actually look like for someone his age, and considering the nearly 3 months of infection. Being able to access BHF patient stories and other practical guidance has given us confidence in what his recovery could look like. They have helped shape a hopeful view of the future for our new family!!

We would be incredibly grateful for any donation, big or small, to help the British Heart Foundation continue its vital work. And if donating isn’t possible, please take a moment to check out some of the resources they offer, which helped us so much:

 

Thank you so much for your support!

British Heart Foundation

Raising for:

British Heart Foundation
46%

Funded

  • Target
    £2,500
  • Raised so far
    £1,150
  • Number of donors
    33

My Story

In 2025, I’ll be running not just one, but two major events — the London Marathon in April and, since I didn’t think I’d get a spot there, I signed up for the Great North Run in September. I guess I’m doing both!

I will run to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation and increase awareness of Infective Endocarditis, a rare condition that unexpectedly turned our lives upside-down.

At the end of 2023, we welcomed our first child, Nora, into the world. We were adjusting to life as new parents — sleep-deprived, overwhelmed, and filled with joy — until everything changed in January. Toby, my husband, suddenly became very unwell. After over six weeks of worsening symptoms, while still juggling fatherhood and work, a heart murmur was detected during his second GP appointment. Initially, it had been dismissed as flu.

Toby was sent straight to A&E, where he was diagnosed with an advanced case of Infective Endocarditis — a serious infection in the mitral valve of his heart. He spent the next four weeks in the hospital, battling the infection before the medical team could repair whatever lasting damage there was to the valve. Unfortunately, the damage to his heart was too severe for repair, and on the day Nora turned 3 months old underwent urgent open-heart surgery to replace his mitral valve with a mechanical one.

The nursing team at Castle Hill Hospital were incredible. They made special arrangements so that Nora and I could visit Toby daily, allowing us to stay close as a family through such a difficult time. Thanks to their expertise and Toby’s resilience, his surgery was successful, and after months of recovery, he’s on the path to getting his life back, now equipped with his new “shiny” mechanical valve.

Recovery from open-heart surgery was no walk in the park. The physical toll was immense, and the emotional weight even heavier. Toby had to rebuild his strength slowly, while also navigating the mental strain of such a life-altering event, especially while we also tried to keep a tiny human alive. We couldn’t have made it through without the incredible support of friends and family.

As this was such an unexpected journey for us, we weren’t prepared for what lay ahead. Finding out about major heart surgery just days before it happened didn’t give us much time to process what was coming.

Toby had no prior heart issues, and doctors told us it was simply "sheer bad luck" that he developed endocarditis (and even worse timing)! The experience was terrifying, and like many, I was both overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information on the internet and also desperate for more answers. That's where the BHF came in and the reason I am donning my running shoes:

Infective Endocarditis is a rare condition and can often be misdiagnosed, due to symptoms overlapping with other less serious conditions. The BHF works to increase awareness of Infective Endocarditis to help reduce cases of misdiagnosis.
The BHF is the biggest funder of research into heart and circulatory diseases in Europe, without which the currently available treatments and expected prognosis for Toby could have been very different. They also offer information and resources to help healthcare professionals deliver best practice in care for patients.
During Toby's treatment, I spent many nights awake alone at home, feeling in the dark about Toby's illness and struggling with thoughts of the potential outcomes. The BHF resources, advice and real-life patient stories offered clarity about his condition and treatment — providing comfort and hope in some of my darkest hours.
Despite the best efforts of the NHS, most of the information on recovery was tailored for much older patients. This left us in the the dark about what Toby's recovery would actually look like for someone his age, and considering the nearly 3 months of infection. Being able to access BHF patient stories and other practical guidance has given us confidence in what his recovery could look like. They have helped shape a hopeful view of the future for our new family!!

We would be incredibly grateful for any donation, big or small, to help the British Heart Foundation continue its vital work. And if donating isn’t possible, please take a moment to check out some of the resources they offer, which helped us so much:

 

Thank you so much for your support!