At 35, Victoria Thomas was enjoying a normal day when everything changed in an instant.
While participating in a boot camp workout at her gym, she suddenly began to feel unwell. After telling a friend how strange she felt, she collapsed without warning.
Paramedics rushed to the scene and performed a life-saving intervention after discovering she had gone into cardiac arrest — her heart had stopped completely.
Now 41 and living in Gloucester, UK, Victoria recalls that moment vividly. She said her energy seemed to drain from her body, and she felt faint and dizzy. Then, she blacked out.
But in a surreal turn, she described a powerful out-of-body experience. “It was pitch black, and then suddenly I could see myself lying on the floor from above — like I was floating near the ceiling,” she said. “I didn’t see a light or feel peace. I was just observing. I saw yellow machines around me.”
Emergency responders fought for 17 minutes to revive her.
“They never gave up,” Victoria said. “I was young, healthy, and this came out of nowhere. But they kept trying.”
She remained in a coma for three days and later had a defibrillator implanted to monitor and correct potential heart rhythm issues. That device saved her life more than once in the months that followed.
With no known history of heart conditions in her family, Victoria resumed normal life as best she could — even returning to play netball just three weeks after her cardiac arrest. “The defibrillator was shocking when it went off, but it meant I could keep doing what I love,” she shared.
In 2021, her health took another hit during pregnancy. As her heart came under increased strain, she began to suffer frequent cardiac arrests. At 24 weeks, she was diagnosed with Danon disease — a rare genetic disorder that affects the heart, muscles, eyes, and brain. She gave birth via emergency c-section at 30 weeks.
Though Victoria is the first in her family diagnosed with the condition, her baby boy, Tommy, was born healthy — and later confirmed not to have inherited the disease.
However, the toll on Victoria’s heart was severe. By 2022, her heart function had declined to just 11% — a level associated with late-stage heart failure.
“When I asked how long I had left, doctors said I had only a few months,” she recalled. “It was heartbreaking. All I could think about was my son. I promised I wouldn’t leave him.”
In April 2021, Victoria received a life-saving heart transplant. Her recovery has been remarkable: she’s now playing sports again, including basketball and volleyball, and even competed in the World Transplant Games in Germany.
Looking back, she calls the experience a gift.
“I’ve been given a second chance at life — and at motherhood. That’s the greatest gift I could ask for.”
Victoria’s journey is a powerful reminder of resilience, the miracles of modern medicine, and a mother’s unwavering love.