The Pride & The Groom

Emma Gough has put her heart and soul into her dog grooming business, writes Emily Rothery

- Emily Rothery

For 34-year-old Emma Gough, dog grooming is more than just a job; it has given her the motivation to overcome a major heart operation and she is clearly passionate about her newly created business and the cocktail of canine clients that she lovingly cares for.

Dogs of all breeds shapes and sizes greet me at the door – and these, bar one, just belong to the Gough family. ‘I’ve always had dogs and can’t imagine life without them, but it was the heart surgery that led me to a new career path,’ says Emma.

When Emma visited her doctor in November 2017 with what she thought was a chest infection, she was found to have a heart murmur. Further investigation alarmingly revealed that Emma had a serious congenital condition and a bicuspid valve had caused aortic stenosis. ‘The doctor at Blackpool hospital said that I was a medical marvel in that the condition hadn’t been detected before, despite two pregnancies and living the busy life of a working mum.’

It was a difficult time as the family had to be screened for the condition. Fortunately, they were given the all clear, but Emma faced open heart surgery where the valve would be replaced with a biological valve. Emma’s husband Chris picks up the story:

‘There were complications and the operation that should have lasted four hours lasted eleven. It was stressful to say the least and at one point I lost the plot and went to get Emma’s name tattooed on my leg!’ Chris can laugh about it now knowing that the operation was a success and that Emma has made a remarkable recovery.