Dr Zoe Williams may be confident dishing out medical advice to the nation on This Morning, but when it comes to her own health, things can be slightly more daunting. The 44 year old TV doc had a harrowing experience when she was rushed to hospital with an abnormal heart rhythm – an episode she describes as a chilling wake-up call. In an exclusive interview, Zoe opened up about the ordeal that led her to hastily pen an emergency will. “I ended up spending a night in hospital and at one point they almost had to put the paddles on my heart – not because my heart had stopped – but to try and shock it back into a normal rhythm. So they had me write an emergency will. It was very scary,” Zoe said.
Zoe has been assured by doctors that her heart is healthy despite the scare
(Image: drzoewilliams/Instagram)
Confronted with her own vulnerability, she reflected, “I had to, for the first time, consider my own mortality. I didn’t think I was going to die, but I also didn’t feel completely certain that I wasn’t going to die in that scenario, hence the makeshift will.” Thankfully, Zoe’s doctors have reassured her that the frightening incident isn’t cause for ongoing concern. Nonetheless, it has profoundly shifted her perspective towards embracing a life with less stress. The star said, “Since then, I’ve had a procedure which means that won’t happen again and I’ve been reassured by the cardiologist that it’s not anything I’ve done, my heart is actually very healthy. It’s just a thing where some people are unlucky. But in some ways I’m glad that happened to me, it’s been a bit of a gift as it gets you thinking about the things that matter.” “At the time, I thought, ‘Is it caffeine? Is it stress?’ and it turns out it was probably none of those things. But in those few weeks before I saw the cardiologist, I thought, ‘I can’t afford to be stressed any more.'” This led to a life rethink for the celeb: “I realised I had to let go of things in my life that were causing stress. It got me looking at my diet and nutrition, and how much alcohol I drink. It was like, ‘How can I just tweak those things to just be a bit healthier?’ It got me to really take a look at my life and what’s important.”
She and partner Stuart share a three-year-old son, Lisbon
(Image: Instagram/drzoewilliams)
Family clearly tops the list for Zoe as she beams when speaking with us about her adorable three year old son, Lisbon, whom she parents with her partner Stuart McKay, who works in recruitment. In a bold move last year, they decided to shake up their UK lives and adventure abroad to soak up priceless family moments. She recounts, “We packed up our home and put it in storage, which was a really scary thing to do – to leave our family and friends behind,” and reflects, “I think we’ve learned a lot about ourselves as a family, as people and as individuals, and it’s helped us really figure out what we want longer term. “We’re coming back to the UK in April and we know now that we don’t want to live in London any more; we want to live closer to nature.” Zoe shares, opening up about her desire for a life surrounded by greenery. Despite her close family ties, she’s candid about the rollercoaster ride of the last few years, touching on the “ups and downs” she’s faced. Among these was her journey into motherhood, which initially brought feelings of isolation. “My little one is at a really fun age and I’m really enjoying being his mum, but the first six months I found it really difficult and challenging. Perhaps because I was an older mum, I think it was the loneliness and the loss of self,” Zoe confides.
Zoe moved abroad from the UK and is now enjoying a more relaxed pace of life abroad
(Image: Instagram/drzoewilliams)
She reflects on the transformative experience of becoming a mother: “When you have your first baby, you’re sort of born as a mother, too. So, with every job I’ve ever had there was the element of sharing responsibility with other people, whereas being a mum, there’s no one to share it with other than my partner. You don’t get a break or a weekend off when you’re a parent. It’s definitely the hardest job I’ve ever done.” Now, Zoe has hit her stride in motherhood and, as a GP, feels adept at tackling any family health scares, though she admits to the same worries that plague any parent. She’s also teamed up with fruit smoothie snack brand GoGo squeeZ, ensuring her son gets all the essential nutrients. “We all want our children to have the ultimate perfect nutrition, but in reality we do need convenience. That’s why Go Go squeeZ comes in handy as a snack that’s highly nutritious, one of your five-a-day, but very convenient. It’s something you can always keep with you, and know you’re giving your child a snack with good nutrition.” Juggling her roles as a busy mum and a doctor, Zoe is a familiar face for many, often gracing their TV screens on This Morning—a gig she still adores. “It’s great. While I can see 40 patients in a day in a world of general practice, on This Morning, I can be speaking to a million patients and if just a few of those people make a positive change, that’s a good thing.” GoGo squeeZ is a fruit smoothie snack made with 100% real fruit, providing one of kids’ five-a-day and a source of fibre, with nothing artificial added RRP £2.55 (4 pack)
