My Personal Story with Brugada Syndrome
By Michael Grivas
One morning, when I was a 23-year-old college student in Patras, I decided to visit my grandmother. I wanted to surprise her, to brighten her day. As soon as she opened the door, she was so happy and immediately told me to come in. We sat on the couch, laughing, talking about my student life, about the small and big things of everyday life. It was one of those moments that seem simple but later you realize how important they were. Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my chest. My heart was pounding as if it wanted to burst out of my body. I tried to stay calm. I told her I was fine… just a little dizzy.
As soon as I got up to splash some water on my face, I lost consciousness. Darkness. I remember nothing. At that moment, it was just my grandmother and me in the house. She told me later what had happened, that I had collapsed on the floor for five whole minutes. Terrified, she immediately called my mother to tell her what had happened. My mother then called an ambulance and informed my father, who ran as fast as he could to my grandmother’s house. He told me later, “Michael, I thought it was all over.”
The first days in the hospital passed in an atmosphere of fear and waiting. The nights were endless. Silence. Insomnia. Anxiety. The corridors were empty. I walked nonstop because I could not sleep. But my parents were always there. Every night, in an uncomfortable chair next to me. Family and friends like beacons in the dark. Without them, I do not know what would have happened.
The first tests, the examinations, the discussions with the doctors… everything was complicated. I realized quickly that this was not something simple. The diagnosis finally came: Brugada Syndrome type 1. The most dangerous form. What is it? It is not just a medical term. It is fear. Uncertainty. Limitations. Sometimes the heart gets confused. Its rhythm becomes dangerously irregular. Fainting. Cardiac arrest. Without warning.
Fear never goes away. Fear that you might not wake up the next morning. Fear that a single episode could be the last. You learn to find strength in small moments. In a conversation with a friend. In a look that calms you. In a smile that changes your day. In phone calls with my mother and father, who asked every minute if I was okay, and in my grandmother’s daily calls to check on me, I realized how important their presence was. Every word from them calmed me and gave me courage.
The days passed slowly, and every night was a test. Sometimes I sat by the window of my room, looking at the streets outside, reflecting on how fragile life is. How easily everything can change in a moment. The small details became significant: the sound of a phone, the feeling of fresh air on my face when I was taken for tests.
After a fainting episode, the doctors decided I needed an implantable defibrillator. When it happened… I felt like life was given back to me. The feeling of the weight that was suffocating me suddenly lifted off my shoulders. It was the moment I understood that technology can save lives, but also that we must be careful with our health.
In Greece, to get approval for a defibrillator, you must have already experienced a cardiac arrest. Many remain exposed. Some show warning signs but are not saved in time. Others who had an episode… did not make it. The uncertainty was terrifying. I thought about how many people might be going through the same fear without any help.
From this experience, the idea for my project was born, Hippocrates AI Assistant. An artificial intelligence platform that helps doctors make timely and accurate diagnoses of heart conditions. I want to help save lives. To reduce mistakes. The most important thing for me? I never want anyone else to go through what I went through.
During my hospitalization, I heard stories from other patients. Children fighting similar problems, families with no hope, people who did not make it. Every story taught me something: to appreciate life, every smile, every moment we take for granted.
Hope can be born from fear. Strength can be born from difficulties. Every day is a chance to continue, to dream, to move forward.
Do not let hardships break you. Life can always give you a second chance. And believe me… it is worth taking it.
About the Author
Michael Grivas is 27 years old and has learned to live with Brugada syndrome. His experience has taught him to appreciate calm moments, the people around him, and the small joys in life. He hopes that his story will help others find light even in their darkest days. Michael is Founder & Head of Vision of Hippocrates AI Assistant Project.