Global Heart Hub Patient Voices: Caius Merșa

What began as a delayed response to chest pain quickly escalated into a life-threatening emergency. Caius suffered a heart attack that required an urgent stent. His condition deteriorated rapidly – he developed pulmonary oedema and had to be intubated. Even after initial stabilisation, complications continued.

The stent blocked. Then came ventricular tachycardia – an “electrical storm” in his heart – triggering repeated cardiac arrests. “At one point, my heart stopped so often that even the doctors were unsure how to proceed.” In those moments, survival depended not only on treatment, but on timing, expertise and access to specialised care.

A decision was made to transfer him across borders. In the middle of the night, Caius was transported from Romania to Hungary, where a specialist team accepted his case. The procedure saved his life.

But survival was only the beginning.

When Caius returned home, the full impact of what he had been through became clear. He could not walk. His balance was gone. His vision was permanently altered – the world no longer appeared in full dimension. His heart function had dropped to a critical level. “It was like learning to exist again,” he says.

Simple actions became uncertain. Alongside the physical recovery came panic attacks, fear and the lasting imprint of repeated near-death experiences. Recovery was not linear. It was gradual, complex and deeply personal.

Step by step, Caius rebuilt – physically, mentally and emotionally. Ten years on, his life tells a very different story. He now runs regularly, often up to 15 kilometres. His heart function has stabilised, and his brain has adapted to his vision loss. He no longer relies on medication for anxiety, instead turning to philosophy and counselling as tools for healing.

What once felt like an ending became a redefinition – not only of health, but of purpose.

Rather than leaving his experience behind, Caius chose to use it. Today, he is actively involved in patient advocacy across Europe, contributing to conversations that shape cardiovascular care, research and innovation. He also works in digital health through iKaardia, a Romanian health app supporting cardiovascular patients.

“Lived experience changes the conversation,” he explains. “It brings humanity into decision-making.”

Through his work with Global Heart Hub, Caius has been able to bring that perspective into spaces where decisions are made.

“Global Heart Hub has given me a platform to transform lived experience into impact,” he says. “It allows me to contribute to conversations that are often data-driven, by bringing in the human side of care.”

Looking back, one message stands above all: “Do not be a stubborn patient.”

For Caius, this is not just advice – it is lived experience. He encourages others to listen to their bodies, to act early and to ask questions. But his message goes beyond that. Recovery takes time. Healing is both physical and psychological. And even after severe complications, life can be rebuilt.

“Your diagnosis does not define your outcome. With the right support and determination, it is possible to return to a full and active life,” he says.

Caius’s journey also highlights where healthcare systems need to evolve. He advocates for stronger integration of mental health into cardiovascular care, better follow-up beyond the initial crisis, and more inclusive systems that reflect the needs of younger patients. He also highlights the importance of investing in patient-centred digital health tools and ensuring that patient voices are meaningfully included in research and policy.

His survival depended on cross-border collaboration. “That should not be the exception – it should be the system.”

Today, Caius continues his academic work across visual arts and culinary anthropology, while dedicating his energy to improving the lives of others affected by cardiovascular disease. His story is not just about survival. It is about what happens after – when a life is interrupted, and then rebuilt.

From an “electrical storm” to steady ground, Caius’s journey is a powerful reminder that recovery is not about returning to what was, but about discovering what is still possible.