Features

People often say its worse seeing someone else in discomfort than going through it yourself.

But I have to honest when I filmed Ron Jackson have muscle removed as part of my latest health assignment I was very glad it was him and not me.

Ron from Oakham in Rutland stands out as a patient who takes surgery in his stride.

After surviving six heart attacks and bypass surgery - Ron has been in and out of hospital more times than he cares to remember.

Unphased by all things medical is one reason why he's the perfect candidate for groundbreaking research into one of the biggest health challenges of our age - heart failure. 

The research is ground breaking

Doctors at the Glenfield Hospital in Leicester one of the UK cardiac centres hoping to create a new treatment for heart disease experimenting with patients like Ron.

It involves taking muscle from the patient’s leg and extracting millions of immature muscle cells and injecting them into the heart in a second operation.

The theory is the cells - which behave like stem cells - may regenerate the damaged heart muscle and improve heart function, breathing and quality-of-life for patients.

Ron is the first person in the UK to undergo the procedure.

What's more he was happy to be followed by our cameras through his treatment.

I spoke with Ron the night before the first operation to explain what our TV coverage would involve.

He said he wanted to take part to showcase the work of the leading heart centre in Leicester.

Modern technology means we know longer needs lots of lights and people to put together a film.

It's just me and a lightweight hand held camera. If you are doing your job properly people forget you are really there.

There isn't much point filming the blood and gore bit - it doesn't really fit with people watching television while they are having their tea!

Consultant cardiologist Dr Tony Gershlick's team wouldn't know for two weeks whether enough cells could be extracted from the muscle tissue removed from Ron’s leg.

Ron had to stay in hospital overnight for observation.

When I talked to Ron and Margaret at home they came over very well .

It was clear they were apprehensive about the research - who wouldn't be.

But any anxiety was overshadowed by a desire to push the boundaries of medicine and help future generations of patients.

The second part of the operation went well but a glitch on my small camera meant we almost didn't capture the cells being injected.

All Steamed Up

My heart was beating fast as I had to call a cameraman working elsewhere in Leicester.

My equipment had packed up at the crucial moment!!! 

In television we often make the best films when there's a bit of luck - equally though bad luck can strike - I guess life is randomly cruel.

If you are going to get stressed you might as well do it in a cardiac centre.

There was nothing I could do to repair the camera. The cameraman did arrive just in time to save the day.

It'll be months before doctors know whether the treatment has been successful. It may not work at all.

The biggest worry is that it may interfere with Ron’s heart rhythm. That will be closely monitored.

The research is part of a Europe wide trial. Ron is the first patient in UK and on East Midlands Today I hope to keep you up-to-date on how the project goes.