'I owe you my life' – Moray Councillor thanks NHS
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MORAY Councillor John Cowe has issued a public thank-you to the medical professionals who have saved his life.
Shortly before Christmas, John was diagnosed with a critical heart condition and told he'd be dead within 24 months if he did not undergo an operation.
The 70-year-old is now on the mend after undergoing four hours of surgery which saw a heart valve from a pig transplanted onto his own.
He said: "I want to praise the NHS to the hilt. You hear some bad things said sometimes, but my own personal experience was that the care I received could not have been better.
"My dad died of exactly the same heart problem at the age of 62.
"That was 40 years ago and he was told there was nothing that could be done for him.
"His aorta valve snapped one day and he died at the dinner table.
"But medical science moves on and I'm very grateful it has."
John was elected to Moray Council as an Independent, representing the Heldon and Laich ward which includes his hometown of Lossiemouth.
One upsetting consequence of his health problems was that, last month, John and wife Joan were unable to welcome Anastasia who has become like a surrogate grandchild.
For the past five years the couple have been amongst the Moray families who host a group of 20 children from the East European country of Belarus.
The youngsters stay for a month at a time to boost their immune systems and protect them from the ongoing effects of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986.
Anastasia has been staying with John and Joan since she was just seven .
However she had to remain in her home country and will be too old to return to Moray next year under the Friends of Chernobyl Children programme.
John said: "I couldn't bring myself to go to Duffus Village Hall where all the children go to school while they are here.
"I knew it would be too emotional and it might damage my heart.
"However, I've been given a get well card which the children made for me. They have all signed it and it means so much.
"In fact, I'm so grateful for all the messages of support I've received from so many people.
"My goal now is to continue to get better.
"I feel a little bit tired and a wobbly in my legs at times, but I'm definitely on the mend."
John suffered a hear attack on April 16 – the day of a meeting of Moray Council's Economic Development Committee.
He was consequently looked after at Dr Gray's Hospital in Elgin before undergoing his life-saving operation in Aberdeen during May.
John said: "I'm looking forward to returning to work at the council.
"It's facing a lot of ongoing challenges but I hope to help tackle them in a re-energized manner.
"And the fact that I'm now in any sort of position to do so is wholly down to the amazing expertise and care of those working in both Elgin and Aberdeen.
"Once again, thank-you to all those who have helped me."
