Renowned British media personality Emma Willis revealed that she recently underwent a delicate heart surgery to repair a hole she had suffered from since birth, without realizing it for 48 years.
Willis, 49, posted a series of photos of herself from inside the hospital on her Instagram account, explaining that she underwent the surgery at the renowned Royal Brompton Hospital in London. She praised the medical team that supervised her case and the support of her husband, singer and actor Matt Willis, who accompanied her throughout the treatment.
Willis said in her touching message:
“A few weeks ago, I had minimally invasive heart surgery, which is still weird for me to write, and even weirder to say out loud. From the tests last year, through the diagnosis and then the surgery, the medical team was absolutely amazing. And so was @mattjwillis, who never left my side 💕.”
Willis confirmed that the hole in her heart had been present since birth, but she only discovered it recently after a series of medical tests. She described the situation as “shocking” and “amazing” at the same time, wondering how much can happen inside our bodies without our knowledge.
She added:
“What amazes me most is the advancements in modern medicine, and these amazing people who dedicate their lives to saving others. Can you imagine what it must be like to have hands capable of such tasks? They are the true stars.”
The British media personality praised several members of the medical team, including:
Dr. Alexander Lyon, whom she described as a “brilliant detective”;
Professor Wei Li, a cardiac radiology expert;
Nurse Pollette, who was known for her warmth and love of sweets; and her surgeon, Dr. E-Ling Hing, whom she praised with touching words, saying:
“She was described as ‘a wonderful pair of hands,’ but she was so much more. She was warm, accommodating, and extremely professional. She answered all my questions with saintly patience. I knew from our first meeting that she was the right person for this surgery. Thank you, E-Ling, you are one in a trillion ❤️”
Emma Willis has been married to her husband, Matt, for over 20 years, and they have three children: Isabel, Ace, and Trixie.
Her post received widespread support from her fans and colleagues in the media, who expressed their admiration for her courage and transparency in sharing her health experience and commended her awareness of the importance of heart health and early detection.
