Newry man marks 30th birthday with BHF bench at Queen's University

A Newry man who underwent open-heart surgery at just six months old has had a British Heart Foundation red bench unveiled in his honour at Queen's University Medical Biology Centre in Belfast. Karl Murray, who recently celebrated his 30th birthday, was diagnosed with a congenital heart condition as a baby and has gone on to become a patient advocate for others living with similar conditions.

Karl was three months old when his parents received the diagnosis that he had been born with tetralogy of Fallot, a condition which affects how the heart works and how blood flows through it. His mother first noticed something was wrong when he was not eating properly and kept falling asleep during feeds. His grandmother, a nurse at the Royal Children's Hospital, advised the family to seek medical help, and Karl was subsequently diagnosed with congenital heart disease.

At six months old, Karl underwent seven hours of open-heart surgery at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital, where surgeons repaired the hole between the two bottom chambers of his heart and widened the pulmonary valve. The operation was a success, though his parents were told further surgery and medication were likely to be needed in later years.

Karl, who is now married and lives in Lisburn, works in the education sector. He spoke about growing up with the condition: "My childhood was filled with hospital visits, I remember spending one Christmas in hospital when I was around five years old. However my parents worked very hard to give me a normal childhood and while sports wasn't an option, I picked up the guitar instead. My interest in music eventually led to an interest in technology and my professional career."

He could not pursue football, a sport close to his family. "I come from a very big sports background. My grandfather and my dad played football competitively, but I had to accept from a young age, I couldn't play contact sports or do any form of intense exercise due to the risk of further damage to my heart."

Although his early surgery was successful, Karl has lived with the prospect of further surgery for much of his life. "Since I was about 13 years old or 14 years old, the doctors have been telling me surgery is likely next year," he said. "However I've had regular check ups with my cardiologist and as I'm doing well they don't want to perform the surgery until I absolutely need it. It is difficult to have the thought of surgery hanging over me but I'm still healthy, which is the main thing."

He said a shift in perspective helped him move forward. "For years, I think I was kind of living on the idea of always getting surgery the next year. Then I think it was when I got engaged and bought a house it made me start to question whether I should be constantly waiting for it as it was affecting my plans for the future, around my wedding and having kids. It is always in the back of my mind, or I should say it always was in the back of my mind. But I have now taken the attitude that I'm going to get on with my life and not let my condition put any future plans on hold."

Karl has been involved with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) since his teenage years and is now a member of its Patient and Public Research Strategy Advisory Group, which he joined in 2023. "I've had the opportunity to share my experiences as the youngest member of the group and learn from others about what they have overcome," he said. "It's incredibly rewarding to see the impact the group has had already."

His bench, part of a series of 65 red benches unveiled by the BHF to mark 65 years since the charity was founded, is situated outside the Queen's University Medical Biology Centre on the Lisburn Road. Karl said the location holds particular personal significance. "Queen's University is a special place for me as it's not only where I achieved my degree, but also where I met my wife Nicole and my grandfather studied there."

Professor Frank Casey from Queen's University Belfast said: "Karl has turned his personal experience into a powerful force for good, supporting others and raising awareness through his work as a dedicated patient advocate. His story highlights the major progress made in congenital heart research and care over recent decades, enabling most children born with congenital heart disease to grow up and lead full adult lives."

Fearghal McKinney, Head of BHF Northern Ireland, said: "Heart defects are diagnosed in at least 1 in 150 births - that's an average of 13 babies each month in Northern Ireland - with even more diagnoses later in life. It's extraordinary what Karl and his family have been through since he was a baby and seeing his resilience and continued passion to support the British Heart Foundation is just amazing."

Every day in Northern Ireland, around 12 people die from cardiovascular disease, with the condition affecting more than 230,000 people. The BHF is asking for donations to fund further research. Details are available at bhf.org.uk/keepusbeating.