DOCTORS FIND A HOLE SHE NEVER KNEW SHE HAD
Fans thought they knew everything about Emma Willis. But behind the TV smiles and red carpets, she was quietly living with a secret that could have changed everything. Now, she’s finally telling the truth — and it’s left many stunned.
Emma Willis has revealed she recently underwent keyhole heart surgery after doctors discovered she had been living with a hole in her heart since birth — a diagnosis that came as a complete shock.
The 49-year-old TV presenter shared the news with fans in a deeply emotional Instagram post on Wednesday, alongside a series of hospital photos taken in the aftermath of the procedure.
Emma explained that following medical investigations last year, doctors confirmed the congenital condition — leading to surgery at Royal Brompton Hospital.
‘It feels strange even saying it out loud’
In her candid message, the former Big Brother host admitted the experience still feels surreal.
“A few weeks ago, I had keyhole heart surgery — which feels very strange to write, and even stranger when I say it out loud,” she wrote.
She praised the hospital team who guided her from diagnosis through to surgery, describing them as “absolutely incredible,” before paying a heartfelt tribute to her husband, Matt Willis, who she said “never left my side.”
Emma revealed she had unknowingly lived with the condition for nearly five decades.
“Turns out I’ve been pottering around for 48 years blissfully unaware I had a hole in my heart,” she said.
“Isn’t it bonkers what’s happening in our bodies that we have no idea about?”
She went on to express awe at modern medicine — and the professionals behind it.
“What blows my mind even more is the wonders of modern medicine, and the spectacular people who save, fix and help us every single day,” she added.
“They are the real superstars.”
‘A spectacular pair of hands’
Emma named and thanked several members of her medical team, singling out her surgeon, Dr Ee Ling Heng, in particular.
“She was recommended to me as ‘a spectacular pair of hands’ — but my God, she’s that and so much more,” Emma wrote.
“She made me feel instantly comfortable while being incredibly professional and informative. I ask a million questions — and she answered them with the patience of a saint.”
Emma added that she knew immediately she was in safe hands.
“I knew as soon as we met that she was the woman I wanted poking around in my heart,” she said.
“Thank you Ee Ling — you’re one in a trillion.”
What is keyhole heart surgery?
Keyhole heart surgery involves small incisions in the chest rather than opening the breastbone, making it a far less invasive alternative to traditional open-heart surgery.
Surgeons access the heart through these incisions, reducing complications and significantly shortening recovery time — an option increasingly used for congenital heart conditions.
A marriage tested — and strengthened
Emma and Matt Willis have been together for more than 20 years and share three children: Isabelle, 15, Ace, 13, and Trixie, eight. The couple married in 2008 and are approaching their 20th wedding anniversary.
Over the years, they have been open about facing challenges, including Matt’s past struggles with drug and alcohol addiction.
More recently, Matt has spoken publicly about how couples therapy helped transform their marriage after they began counselling in 2020.
“We weren’t in trouble,” Matt previously explained. “We just had certain things we couldn’t get past.”
He admitted Emma was initially reluctant but later agreed therapy had been “transformative,” helping them better understand one another and strengthen their bond.
An outpouring of support
Following Emma’s announcement, fans flooded her comments with messages of love, admiration and well wishes — praising her honesty, courage and positivity.
As she continues her recovery, Emma’s story has resonated deeply, reminding many that even the most familiar faces can be quietly fighting unseen battles — and that strength often lies in trust, gratitude and love.
