Emma Willis’ fellow Big Brother host Davina McCall rushed to offer her support after it was revealed that the TV legend had surgery on her heart. On Wednesday night, Emma, 49, took to social media to share that unbeknownst to her, she had been living with a defect on her heart, for her entire life.
The Birmingham-born presenter who took over from Davina when the show moved from Channel 4 to Channel 5 thanked staff at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London for their support after her diagnosis. Emma shared a string of snaps with her two million followers on Meta’s Instagram platform.
Davina, who also went under the knife to remove a benign brain tumour was one of dozens of celebrities who rushed to offer their love and support to Emma. Writing under the post which has been liked over 127,000 times, the 57-year-old penned: “Oh Wow!!! @emmawillisofficial!! What a shocker!! Thinking of you all and sending you huge healing hug,” alongside four red heart emojis.
Elsewhere, Spice Girls icon Melanie Chisholm penned: “Bloody hell! Sending lots of love. Already knew you were a super woman but wow, watch out for Willis version 2.0!” “So glad it’s all done and you are on the mend. Much love,” commented Yvie Burnett.
Tom Fletcher’s wife, Giovanna added: “Love you treacle!!! Strongest of hearts – even when that hole was there!! Imagine the strength of your heart now these legends have worked on it!!!” Emma’s first image showed her in a hospital gown as she placed her hands on her hip.
Meanwhile, another showed her resting her head on husband Matt Willis’ shoulders and another was taken as she laid in her hospital bed while wired up to an ECG and blood pressure monitor.
Sharing the news, Emma penned: “A few weeks ago, I had keyhole heart surgery, which feels very strange to write, and even stranger when I say it out loud. From investigations last year, to diagnosis and then surgery, they were absolutely incredible. As was @mattjwillis who never left my side.
“Turns out, I’ve been pottering around for 48 years blissfully unaware I had a hole in my heart. Isn’t it bonkers what’s happening in our bodies that we have no idea about… What blows my mind even more is the wonders of modern medicine, and the spectacular people that save, fix and help us every single day.
“Can you imagine what it must feel like to have a pair of hand that can do that job?! They are the real superstar… A few of those people are Dr Alexander Lyon who investigated like a true super sleuth. Professor Wei Li, echocardiogram extraordinaire. Catrina, Carl and Tim who kept me at ease and humoured me when they were putting me to sleep. Marcus, Janet, Jayne, Hannah and Reem who monitored me at various points. Paulette, who was always up for a chat, gave great hugs, and loves a cinnamon slice as much as I do!”
Praising her surgeon, Emma went on to say of Dr Ee Ling Heng: “She was recommend as a ‘spectacular pair of hands’ but my god, shes that and so much more. She has an ease and warmth that made me feel instantly comfortable all whilst being incredible professional and informative.
“I ask a million questions, and she answered them with the patience of a saint. I knew as soon as we met that she was the woman I wanted poking around in my heart. Thank you Ee Ling, you’re one in a trillion.”
Symptoms of a hole in the heart include a rapid heartbeat, rapid breathing, swelling of the legs, stomach or around the eyes, extreme tiredness and fatigue, a blue tinge to the skin or lips and tiredness and rapid breathing when a baby is feeding. The NHS adds that some problems are noticeable at birth while some others may not develop until later in life.
Mild defects often don’t require treatment and can improve on their own, while surgery or interventional procedures can be required to treat more serious defects if it is causing a problem.
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