Student sets heart on medical career after life-saving care at Hammersmith Hospital
Student sets heart on medical career after life-saving care at Hammersmith Hospital
06 October 2023
Atul Rao, a US citizen, was studying in London when a blood clot in his lungs stopped the blood flow through his heart – a condition known as pulmonary embolism.
The clot triggered a cardiac arrest but paramedics from the London Ambulance Service were able to get his heart beating again before rushing him to Hammersmith Hospital’s specialist heart attack centre.
The team worked through the night to keep Atul alive – despite his heart stopping a further five times over the next 24 hours.
Thankfully, clot-busting drugs began to take effect and Atul’s condition stabilised. He was later transferred to St Thomas’ Hospital where he made a remarkable recovery over the next two weeks.
"The minute I woke up I knew. I want to use my second chance at life by helping others."
Atul Rao
Returning to Hammersmith two months later to thank the team who saved his life, the 21-year-old medical student pledged to use his “second chance” to follow in their footsteps and pursue a career in medicine.
“Most 21-year-olds want to go out drinking,” he said. “Given how dangerous my situation had been, I was grateful to be here and have people who love me around to celebrate.
“Before this happened, I was starting to wonder if I was doing the right thing doing medicine and whether I should be going into business instead. But the minute I woke up I knew. I want to use my time in a productive way. I want to use my second chance at life by helping others.”
Atul, who is from Seattle and studies at Baylor University in Texas, returned to Hammersmith Hospital with his parents Srividhya and Ajay. They were shown the bed space where his heart was repeatedly restarted and spoke to clinicians about those first few hours when Atul’s life was in the balance.
"I feel blessed to be here and I'm so thankful to you for giving my son back to me."
Srividhya Rao
The family told doctors, nurses and paramedics they were “thankful beyond words” for the extraordinary efforts that were made to save him.
“Everyone who worked around Atul wanted him to be well,” said Atul’s mum Srividhya. “It’s clear they love and care about what they do. I feel blessed to be here and I’m so thankful and grateful to you for giving my son back to me.”
Could you help us save many more patients like Atul?
After his life was saved at Hammersmith Hospital’s heart attack centre, Atul was transferred to St Thomas’ Hospital – where potentially life-saving ‘ECMO’ equipment was on standby should it be needed. This special machine enables doctors to offer a form of life support known as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, which can fully replace the work of the heart and lungs in an emergency.
We want to make sure Hammersmith Hospital is able to provide a full ECMO service to save the lives of many more patients like Atul in the future.
We’ve already funded one ECMO machine and a training programme for staff at the hospital’s intensive care unit. But we need your help to purchase two more machines for the team to use.
Could you help us provide this life-saving equipment for patients at Hammersmith Hospital? You can find out more and support our Hammersmith Hospital ICU appeal here.
