Geelong dad returns to Barwon Health for placement after heart battle

Newcomb dad Jai Roberts’ life has come full circle after returning to the place that changed his life in a bid to give back.

Prior to being a patient of Barwon Health’s Hospital Admission Risk Program (HARP) program in 2015, Jai Roberts had spent most of the previous two years in hospital.

Since then, the Newcomb father-of-five hasn’t been back in hospital.

Jai Roberts who was treated in 2015 with chronic heart failure. Jai has 'warrior' tattooed on his fingers after a nurse left a note saying "Be a warrior not a worrier" on his hospital bedside table while he was asleep. Picture: Mike Dugdale

But now life has come full circle for Mr Roberts, who is at the end of placement at Barwon Health as a part of a TAFE course in community studies.

Mr Roberts said it is “so good” to be back at HARP.

The 48-year-old Newcomb resident was treated in 2015 with chronic heart failure and found himself in line for a heart transplant, under the close eye of the HARP team that helped manage his condition.

Thanks to Barwon Health staff, including cardiologist Professor John Amerena, Mr Roberts said he was able to turn his life around and improved his health enough to avoid the transplant.

Mr Roberts, who also received care at The Alfred, still lives with cardiomyopathy, which causes the heart muscle to ­become ­inflamed, enlarged and weak.

But lifestyle changes and reduced stress helped improve his health.

The journey inspired Mr Roberts and he is now at the end of his studies at The Gordon TAFE, undertaking a diploma in community studies – case management.

“I realised how much I wanted to be able to help others,” Mr Roberts said.

“I have recently been doing one day a week in the heart failure clinic with Prof Amerena and have also agreed to volunteer one day a week with Odyssey House.”

Mr Roberts said returning to work alongside Prof Amerena had been “surreal” and one of the best experiences of his life.

“I initially started the course with an interest in counselling and really just wanted to get involved with helping others in whatever way I could,” he said.

Jai Roberts, pictured with son Max. Picture: Mike Dugdale

“However, my end goal was always to get involved with a program like HARP, so to be given this opportunity doing my placement here is extremely exciting and I am incredibly grateful.”

He said after completing his studies, he hoped to work in a program such as HARP, be it volunteering or employed.

“I’m really looking forward to the next chapter in my life and being able to help others,” he said.

“I want to thank everyone involved for giving me this opportunity (to) gain such valuable experience.”

Originally published as Geelong dad returns to Barwon Health for placement after heart battle