At 17, she suffered excruciating chest pain, then collapsed. That is when Tess Dunn got the explanation that she had a hole in her heart.
Born in the Philippines, Tess was adopted by an English couple. But as a toddler, Tess had inhaled volcanic ash and subsequently underwent partial lung removal surgery. Without any other medical history, doctors had always attributed her breathing difficulties to lung issues.
When she collapsed at age 17, the cause of her breathing difficulties was finally diagnosed: Eisenmenger syndrome.
Eisenmenger syndrome is a heart defect which is caused by a large hole in the heart, specifically located where the two lower chambers of the heart connect. With Eisenmenger, blood circulates abnormally in the heart, and instead of returning to the body, it returns to the lungs instead. This leads to a dangerous increase in blood pressure within the pulmonary arteries and it’s a struggle for the heart to keep up.
Doctors told Tess that because of her heart defect, she probably wouldn’t live past 30, and she was told to quit all sports because any sudden movement could kill her.
Tess, a talented musician, even had to give up her trumpet playing because it was too strenuous.
Tess looks healthy on the outside, but fights a serious internal battle every day. She couldn’t just sit around. She knew she couldn’t run or jog or do most exercises that others do to stay fit. But she wanted to remain toned, so she did research on the internet and found pole dancing.
Pole dancing?!
Yes! Because it involves controlled movements that don’t shock her heart, Tess says it is safe and actually has strengthened her heart muscles. It has become a great hobby for her, and it helps her not only fight the physical battle, but the mental one as well. If she gets too breathless, she sits out, but manages two hours per week of exercise.
Tess is now 23 and attending Cambridge University in England, where she studies music therapy. Next year, she will be the “face” of the British Heart Foundation, who will feature Tess on billboards across the UK.
She is excited to raise awareness about Eisenmenger syndrome and she wants to show everything she’s been able to accomplish despite it.
For the rest of her life, she will have a constant battle with breathlessness, fatigue, chest pain, dizziness, and leg swelling. But that doesn’t stop Tess from focusing on the future. With a music degree in hand, she has taught music in Qatar and is determined to become a music therapist.
