LIVED EXPERIENCE with SEVERE AORTIC VALVE STENOSIS (AORTIC STENOSIS) From collapsing in Thailand to meeting technicians who hand-stitched heart valve in Singapore
With
Geoffrey Lewis, Age 75
Diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis, following collapse
Rebecca Pickles,
daughter of Geoffrey Lewis
LIVED EXPERIENCE SEGMENT
Filmed in Sydney | September 2026
A Batemans Bay grandfather who dismissed months of breathlessness and fatigue as “just getting older” is now preparing to travel to Singapore to meet the technicians who hand-stitched the heart valve that helped save his life.
In April 2026, retired logistics courier, Geoff Lewis, 75, collapsed in front of his daughter and grandchildren while on holiday in Thailand, after months of symptoms he had ignored. The collapse would lead to a diagnosis of severe aortic stenosis and urgent treatment back home.
Aortic stenosis is a narrowing of the heart valve which makes the heart work harder to pump blood around the body.(1)
When left untreated, severe symptomatic aortic stenosis is associated with poor outcomes, with more than half of those affected potentially dying within two years. (2)
The disease most commonly affects those aged 65 years and over, and its symptoms are often mistaken for the normal signs of ageing, (3) such as gradual reduction in exercise capacity, shortness of breath, fatigue (tiredness) and tightness, or pain in the chest. (4)
An estimated 100,000 Australians are living with severe aortic stenosis, with a further 10,000 new cases developing each year.2 The disease is increasingly treatable,6 and can often be identified through a routine heart examination, including listening for a heart murmur with a stethoscope.(5)
Treatment depends on the severity of the condition and an individual’s circumstances. Options may include monitoring or valve replacement, including surgical approaches or minimally invasive procedures such as transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).
Citations:
- Strange, G., et al., Uncovering the treatable burden of severe aortic stenosis in Australia: current and future projections within an ageing population. BMC Health Services Research, 2021. 21(1): p. 790.
- Otto, C.M., Timing of aortic valve surgery. Heart (British Cardiac Society), 2000. 84(2): p. 211-218.
- Hope For Hearts. Symptoms of Aortic Stenosis. [July 2026]; Available from: https://hopeforhearts.com.au/aortic-stenosis/symptoms/.
- Victor Chang Cardio Research Institute. Aortic Stenosis. [July 2026]; Available from: https://www.victorchang.edu.au/aortic-stenosis.
- The Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute. Our hidden ageing: Time to listen to the heart. 2021; Available from: https://www.baker.edu.au/impact/advocacy/valve-disease.
Source: Adapted from media release, VIVA! Communications Pty Ltd – a GHMC Company August 2026. Supplied footage: Edwards Lifesciences (Singapore)
-
Updated handbook on chronic kidney disease management in primary care
Kidney Health Australia’s latest kidney disease guide for primary care practitioners is expected to be pivotal in slowing down the rates of kidney failure, which have doubled in the past 20 years and if left unchecked will grow by a further 42% by 2030, according to the health charity.
With specific reference to new kidney treatments and culturally safe kidney care for First Nations Australians, the 5th edition of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Management in Primary Care handbook, known as the ‘kidney bible’, is a significant step-up in enabling earlier diagnosis of kidney disease for GPs and other front-line healthcare professionals.
-
Surgical Site Infection (SSI) Synopsis, including modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors
Talking to the Australian Health Journal, Professor Russo states there is a particular concern in joint operations, such as hip or knee replacements, as infections in these areas can have severe consequences, including the removal of the infected joint, prolonged treatment, and significant costs for both hospitals and patients. Despite the substantial impact of surgical site infections, Australia lacks a national surveillance program for these infections, making it challenging to obtain accurate data. However, an estimate suggests that around 45,000 surgical site infections occur annually in Australia, resulting in approximately 900 deaths.
-
Success in WA pilot to observe babies showing delays in social interaction & communication development
Inklings – led by The Kids Research Institute Australia – is a program for babies aged 6-18 months whose communications skills are developing differently to expected milestones. In early 2025 it has completed the first year of a pilot program.
At the time of filming (Nov 2024), Inklings has received more then 300 enquiries across WA and started to deliver services to 160 children, with almost 60 who have completed the program.
