The Heart Warrior Project

12/03/2026

Heart Warriors & Loved Ones ❤️

We’re hosting a themed meetup inviting both heart warriors and co-survivors or loved ones. Surviving an SCA, or living with the risk of one, impacts not only the heart warrior, but also the people around them.

In this meetup, we bring both sides together to connect, share, and support one another. 🤝

https://calendly.com/d/cxsh-qz2-4r6/hwp-meetup-theme-heart-warriors-loved-ones

11/03/2026

The Heart Warrior Project exists to support people around the world who have survived a sudden cardiac arrest or who are at high risk — through conversations with experts, real survivor stories, and a growing community of heart warriors.

If this project has helped you, inspired you, or made you feel less alone, consider supporting it on Ko-fi.

Your support helps keep this project alive and allows us to keep creating content, organizing meetups, and supporting heart warriors everywhere. ❤️

Support the project: https://ko-fi.com/heartwarriorproject

09/03/2026

East Carolina University recently published an article about the Heart Warrior Project and the work we’re doing to support people around the world living with cardiac arrest and ICDs.

The project was born from my own experience surviving a sudden cardiac arrest. One of the things I quickly realized afterwards was how many people feel alone while navigating the emotional and psychological side of this very unexpected journey we are thrown onto.

Through the podcast and community, my goal has always been simple: to create a place where heart warriors can learn, connect, and feel understood.

The article highlights the Heart Warrior Project and features Dr. Sam Sears, clinical health psychologist and professor at East Carolina University, who has joined the podcast multiple times to share his expertise with the community.

As I shared in the article:

“In a doctor’s appointment, you only have 10 minutes. With a podcast, we have an hour with them, and it will live online forever. More medical doctors should do this, and Dr. Sears is an incredible example of someone who does it so well.”

I’m forever grateful to Dr. Sears and to all the cardiac health experts who have joined the podcast for taking time out of their busy schedules to share their knowledge, support this community, and help heart warriors around the world feel a little less alone.

You can read the full article here:

ECU's Dr. Samuel Sears helps heart patients move forward with confidence on YouTube channel Heart Warriors Project channel.

06/03/2026

A few days ago, it was my 5th re-birthday. ❤️

Even after 5 years, when I wake up (my sudden cardiac arrest happened in my sleep), I still very often feel a deep sense of relief — followed by gratitude that I get to wake up to another day.

Another day to spend time with the people I care about, and to do work that feels meaningful to me, like continuing to build The Heart Warrior Project.

It made me quite emotional a few days ago. There have been many downs along the way. Moments of fear, uncertainty, frustration, and times when life felt very fragile.

But some of the ups… they have been so special and so unexpected that they have made my life richer in ways I never expected.

Meeting incredible fellow heart warriors ❤️ — people with whom you instantly share a bond that is hard to explain to anyone else. Experiencing the warmth, kindness, and genuine care from people all around the world who understand this strange path we’re walking together. 🌍

It’s something truly special.

Surviving a sudden cardiac arrest changes you. It forces you to look at life differently. At times, that can be heavy. But it also sharpens what really matters. The small moments. A conversation with a friend. A quiet morning. The ability to help someone else who is going through something similar. 🤝

Five years ago, I almost didn’t wake up again.

And yet, here we are.

Five extra years of life. Five years of learning. Five years of meeting incredible people. Five years of trying to turn something frightening into something meaningful.

And while the future is uncertain, given the progression of my heart disease, I know this journey will likely remain a challenging one. However, knowing I am not alone out there — that there are fellow heart warriors and loved ones with me on this ride — helps tremendously. 🤍

I also want to extend that to you. If you are reading this, and you are a fellow heart warrior who feels lost and alone on this journey, know that every month a group of international heart warriors comes together for online meetups (and at times even in-person meetups) to check in with each other, talk, laugh, and provide genuine support.

And you are welcomed with open arms in our community. 🫂

Through the following link, you can read more about the meetups: https://heartwarriorproject.com/online-meetup-for-cardiac-arrest-survivors/

And be sure to follow us to stay tuned when the next one will happen.

It’s tough being a heart warrior. But it’s a little bit less so when faced together with other heart warriors. ❤️‍🩹

04/03/2026

I’m excited to announce that Dr. Rosy Thachil will be joining us for an upcoming Q&A episode of The Heart Warrior Project. ❤️

Dr. Thachil is a board-certified non-invasive cardiologist in New York City whose work focuses on women’s heart health, cardiac critical care, and health disparities. She is passionate about advancing evidence-based cardiovascular care for women and historically marginalized communities.

In 2025, she was named to Cardiovascular Business Magazine’s “Forty Under 40”, recognizing emerging leaders shaping the future of cardiovascular care.

Given the lack of awareness around women’s heart health ❤️‍🩹, this episode will focus entirely on this topic.

So, what questions do you have for Dr. Thachil? 👩‍⚕️ You can leave them in the comments 💬, or use the link to drop a question there, and I'll ask Dr. Thachil in the interview 🎙️.

Looking forward to receiving your questions! 😊

Have a look at who the next cardiac health expert will be on The Heart Warrior Project podcast and ask your questions.

27/02/2026

A new episode is out now!

In this Q&A episode of The Heart Warrior Project, I’m joined by Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Consultant Cardiologist at York Teaching Hospital in the UK.🫀

With nearly 28 years of experience, Dr. Gupta is passionate about doing healthcare differently — focusing on lifestyle, prevention, and empowering patients to understand their hearts without unnecessary fear.

He leads the hospital’s non-invasive imaging unit, performs hundreds of advanced cardiac investigations each year, and has received multiple Clinical Excellence Awards, including York Cardiology’s “Cardiologist of the Year” in Yorkshire.

Beyond his clinical work, he shares clear, evidence-based, jargon-free heart health information on his YouTube channel, York Cardiology, reaching over 500,000 subscribers.

I really hope that those who listen may find some valuable insights. 🙏

I’m also always curious to hear what you think about the conversation! 💬

In this Q&A episode of The Heart Warrior Project, I’m joined by Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Consultant Cardiologist at York Teaching Hospital in the UK.With nearly 28 ...

26/02/2026

A new episode is live!

In this episode of The Heart Warrior Project, I sit down with Will, a fellow cardiac arrest survivor, to talk openly about something many ICD patients fear: receiving a shock.

In this episode of The Heart Warrior Project, I sit down with Will, a fellow cardiac arrest survivor, to talk openly about something many ICD patients fear: ...

20/02/2026

Exciting news, everyone! On 15 April 2026, Dr. Gupta, a consultant cardiologist at York Teaching Hospital in the UK, will be joining us for a live Q&A meetup.

Ask your questions for free to a top cardiologist who won the “Cardiologist of the Year” award in Yorkshire.

Dr. Gupta specializes in cardiac imaging, lifestyle, and patient empowerment.

Sign up for free: https://calendly.com/d/ctn9-b2t-hhc/live-q-a-meetup-with-dr-sanjay-gupta-york-cardiology

18/02/2026

February is all about love. ❤️

So I created a video/episode celebrating something I deeply admire about heart warriors: the qualities they carry because of what they’ve been through. 💪❤️

In this short, I highlight one of the five traits I consistently see in them — wisdom beyond their years.

If you’re dating or in a relationship with a heart warrior, chances are you’re with someone who has faced life head-on, done the inner work, and brings grounded, hard-earned wisdom into everyday moments. That changes a relationship.

Want to go deeper into this — and discover the other four qualities heart warriors often develop? Watch the full video/episode here: https://youtu.be/F7R5cY6K2eA?si=V70F0vTUKhasXlTI

17/02/2026

We have two dates available to vote on for this month’s meetup — at the beginning of March. It's an open discussion meetup, which is a great opportunity to catch up with everyone and meet fellow heart warriors.

The meetup will be moderated by George Biesmans, a fellow heart warrior whom you might have seen a few times already. He recently joined our team, which I am extremely excited about. I'll be joining as well, but as a participant, so I too can benefit from the support of the group. Through the following link, you can vote for a day.

The one with the most votes is when the meetup will take place: https://calendly.com/d/ctn8-5kq-mdf/cardiac-comeback-crew-op

13/02/2026

Nothing says “I love you” more than chest compressions ❤️

12/02/2026

Was invited yesterday, together with my girlfriend, to talk to volunteers at the Red Cross in Ghent 🇧🇪 about sudden cardiac arrest and what it’s like to perform CPR on a real person 🫀. I’m grateful that there are dedicated people, like those at the Red Cross, who are constantly committed to being there for others.

As many of you know, survival rates for SCA are low—really low 📉. Worldwide, they’re about 10%. A big reason is the lack of AEDs ⚡ and people not knowing CPR. Perhaps a little nudge: if you haven’t already, consider taking a CPR course this year! 😊