Yendi Phillipps McFarlane reveals she underwent heart surgery
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaican TV host, model, and former Miss Jamaica World, Yendi Phillipps McFarlane, has revealed that she recently underwent heart surgery.
Phillipps McFarlane shared the news on Sunday with her Instagram followers, opening up about a five-year health journey that culminated in a life-changing procedure.
“Well, I did heart surgery,” she said. “Five years ago, I started having an arrhythmia. I made the necessary lifestyle adjustments recommended by my doctors. And then the irregularities became increasingly worse and intense. They graduated to a tachycardia.”
She described her scariest episode — one that occurred just a few months ago. “What was I doing for my heart to get to 223 bpm? Simply picking up my son’s toys. How long did it stay at that rate? Over 2 minutes. Unable to breathe. The world around me darkening. My heart thumping in my chest.”
The former beauty queen revealed that she had been diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome, a condition that causes the heart to beat abnormally fast due to an extra electrical pathway in the heart. To address the issue, she underwent an electrophysiological ablation, a minimally-invasive procedure that targets and removes the heart tissue responsible for the irregular rhythm.
Despite the successful outcome, Phillipps shared that recovery wasn’t easy, particularly as a mother of a young child.
“The hardest part? I couldn’t lift anything over 10 lbs for 10 days, which meant I couldn’t hold my baby. Gutting,” she shared. “At 20 months, he also couldn’t understand why he couldn’t lay on my chest or tummy — his favourite way to show affection,” she said.
Phillipps McFarlane however noted that she is completely healed.
“All is now well. I have no issues in my heart!! I can gallivant with my kids, and it is well… I am always so grateful for life. I am always so grateful to make memories with those I love,” she said..
She further expressed deep gratitude to God, her doctors