Overview

• Willis was diagnosed in January with a congenital atrial septal defect following a high cholesterol referral and had keyhole surgery in April.
• At Royal Brompton Hospital, surgeons led by Dr. Ee Ling Heng threaded a flat metal device through her groin into her heart to close the hole.
• She has made a strong physical recovery but is confronting the psychological challenge of adapting to life with a permanent cardiac implant and lingering symptoms.
• Her husband, Matt Willis, and the Royal Brompton medical team received praise for their unwavering support throughout her diagnosis, surgery and recovery.
• Willis and her husband are applying insights from her health journey to promote therapy and mental health care in their upcoming BBC series 'Change Your Mind, Change Your Life'.