Vee Gounder (57) says he feels like a young man again, following his heart surgery performed at Melomed Richards Bay.

Gounder has had heart problems for many years. He received treatment by his cardiologist in Durban for the past 20 years, as Richards Bay did not have a cardiac facility. However, with the establishment of the Cardiac Centre of Excellence at Melomed Richards Bay, Gounder was able to continue with his treatment much closer to home.

He went for an angiogram in April and it was discovered that some of his arteries were blocked.

‘I got a call from the doctors’ rooms in June, telling me that I would be eligible to undergo a new ground-breaking procedure,’ he recalls.

‘I must admit that I was a bit nervous as it was a new procedure and I battled to find any information about the specific procedure.

‘I was the second patient to undergo this procedure and my surgery took place on the Friday morning of 2 July.’

Five-and-a-half hours later, Gounder was out of theatre and the surgery was a huge success.

‘It turned my life around! I had so much oxygen in my body and I felt so alive!’ Gounder says. He adds that it is a pleasure to have a cardiac facility so close to home.

‘My stay at Melomed was a beautiful experience. I would recommend it to anyone. ‘I only have praise for Dr Sizwe Mthiyane (cardiac surgeon). I have never met a doctor who shows that much care for their patients,’ Gounder concludes.