GRETTA RAY: How a Hidden Heart Infection Triggered a Stroke at 26

Greta Ray shares her harrowing journey through a life-threatening health crisis that began shortly after moving to London for her music career. Initially attributing her symptoms to exhaustion and jet lag, she soon experienced severe headaches and double vision, leading to a hospital visit where doctors suspected bacterial meningitis. After a series of tests, it was revealed that she had suffered a stroke caused by infective endocarditis, a rare heart infection. Over the course of six weeks in the hospital, Greta faced numerous challenges, including gallstones caused by antibiotics, all while grappling with the emotional toll of her health crisis.

Throughout her recovery, Greta reflects on the impact of her illness on her identity and career. She emphasizes the importance of community support and the need to reconnect with her creative self. As she navigates her physical and mental health challenges, she finds solace in nature and the healing power of music. Her new album, "Heart Song," is a testament to her journey, capturing the complexities of grief, resilience, and the transformative nature of art. Greta hopes her story and music will resonate with others facing their own struggles, offering a sense of connection and healing.

Gretta Ray's new album Heartsong is born from grief - but not just the grief of a relationship ending, and the loss of loved one. For the first time, Gretta shares the full story of her hospitalisation in 2024. She takes Abbie through the almost 6 weeks she spent in hospital, when she was forced to reckon not only her career changing, but her entire life. After multiple complications, personal grief, and a long journey of mental and physical recovery, Gretta has emerged with a new outlook on life - but just don't tell her 'everything happens for a reason'...

LINKS Gretta Ray's new album Heartsong is out Friday October 30: https://grettaray.lnk.to/heartsongalbum Follow Gretta on IG at @grettaray Follow Gretta on TikTok @grettaray See Gretta on tour, listen to her other music, and more: https://linktr.ee/gretta_ray Send us your thoughts, topic suggestions, NMFs and more: https://forms.gle/S5Pf327SmVnnC8CE9 Check out @itsalotpod on IG at https://bit.ly/itsalot-instagram. Review the podcast on Apple Podcasts https://bit.ly/ial-review

CREDITS Host: Abbie Chatfield @abbiechatfield Guests: Gretta Ray @grettaray Executive Producer and Editor: Amy Kimball @amy.kimball It's A Lot Social Media Manager: Julia Toomey Social Media and Marketing Strategist: Elizabeth Baxter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.