“Greg Bertish takes resilience to a new level” – Prof Wayne Derman
MBChB BSc (Med)(Hons) PhD FFIMS

In 2002, at age 31, I underwent open heart surgery to remove an un-diagnosed & un-culturable tropical bacteria, that had attacked my Aortic Heart Valve.  It took me a year of rehab to recover. I lost my taste and smell, as well as some speech and cognitive skills due to the lengthy operation & complications.  I fought back, to be just “FINE” again, and to be the person I was before.  It came back in 2006, and after another surgery, re-infections and over 100 days in hospital I beat it again.  I used positive thought, meditation, research and training to change the Perceived Reality of a heart patient and became an even better person and athlete.

I have Mechanical heart valves, I am on the blood thinner Warfarin, manage my blood levels, dosage and potential risks. I don’t know if it will come back, or what my future holds. But while Im alive, Im sure gonna be kicking! I manage my situation and have to be a lot more careful. But I still travel the world, ride big waves, compete, adventure, love, talk, council, advise and fund raise.

I help  and  am passionate about helping and inspiring kids, patients and people facing life, hardship, operations or life threatening events. My situation still scares me, and my scars still remind me of who I am and what I face. I have learned to manage and shift my own reality. I now prepare and motivate others by injecting positivity and inspiring them to believe and live their own reality.

I work with the Heart & Stroke Foundation, The Children’s Hospital Trust and am an ambassador for the Friends of the Children Association at Red Cross Hospital.  I learned to shift not only my own, but other peoples and some doctors Perceived Reality of what a Heart Patient/Survivor is and can do.  I now manage and live this new reality and  I use my experience, recovery and adventures to  inspire, prepare and assist others to believe and get through tough and life changing events and situations.

Never, Ever Give Up!