Julia Butterworth, 53, had two valves in her heart replaced back in 2007 after doctors discovered a murmur. Despite regular monitoring, the mother-of-four underwent another surgery in 2022 to replace two additional valves, with a third deemed “irreparable.”
However, in July last year, she began suffering from fatigue and breathlessness, leading to a diagnosis of heart failure and the devastating news that further valve replacements were “not suitable”. Julia and her husband, Michael Butterworth, started making funeral arrangements as medical professionals across the UK declared there was nothing more they could do.
Yet, the team at Leeds General Infirmary refused to admit defeat and began exploring alternative treatments. Dr Chris Malkin, a consultant on the team, believed a solution might lie in a specific type of valve available from an Indian company.
After reaching out to medical experts worldwide for assistance, a cardiologist from Denmark flew over later that month. Dr Malkin and his team imported and modified the valve in a “world-first”, performing groundbreaking keyhole surgery on Julia’s heart in September 2024.
“One day I was planning my funeral and the next I was thinking about my future.” Julia initially had two of her heart valves replaced back in 2007. By 2012, she started facing problems with her kidney function and underwent a transplant three years later, with her father serving as her living donor. In 2022, two of her heart valves needed replacement again, and she reveals that a third was deemed “irreparable.”
Last July, Julia, who suffers from chronic kidney disease, was admitted to LGI, where medical professionals examined both her kidneys and her heart. Julia had a problem with her tricuspid valve, and the available types of replacements were not suitable for her, unlike in the past with her other heart valves. She was informed around August 2024 that there was “nothing more” UK doctors could do and that Christmas was “far from guarantee.”
Her husband Michael expressed: “We were numb and didn’t know what to do. It was upsetting.
“The end of life team were called.” Dr Malkin, a consultant at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, believed there was a solution with a valve manufactured by an Indian company. He reached out to medical professionals worldwide, and received positive feedback from colleagues in Denmark who thought using it was “feasible.”
The procedure was labeled a “high-risk” venture, as it had no prior precedent; however, with Julia in multi-organ failure, she and Michael found common ground in agreeing it was the best course of action. Reflecting on the decision, Julia admitted: “Once my family was happy with it, it made it easier for me to be more focused and positive about it. I had nothing else to lose really. I’ve been poorly for a long time and I’ve always had a positive outlook and attitude.”
To make the operation possible, the valve required importing and customisation before the keyhole surgery could proceed. During the complex surgery, the team realised an additional valve was needed, resulting in one being placed inside the other. Against the odds, the operation proved a success, and astoundingly, Julia was back on her feet within days.
Dr Kate Gatenby, another expert from Leeds involved in the operation and post-operative care, couldn’t conceal her joy regarding Julia’s recovery, saying: “We’ve gone from someone who was bed bound, with a really limited life expectancy, who was in hospital a lot of the time, to somebody who’s now walking, doing well and able to spend time at home with her grandchildren.”
She also highlighted the outstanding teamwork involved, adding: “The number of people who’ve been involved in Julia’s care, it’s a real story of collaboration and teamwork.” Overwhelmed with thankfulness, the couple expressed deep appreciation for the tireless effort of the medical staff, and equally to those offering embraces and moral support to their family.
In health and back at home, Julia shared: “Now I’m home and everything has gone well. I often think, especially when there’s occasions like Mother’s Day, that I might not have been here to see this and see my grandchildren. I’m so grateful to the NHS for everything they’ve done.”
