From CEO to Patient Advocate

Rebuilding a Life

Surviving the surgery was only the beginning. The effects of the dissection and subsequent surgery were so severe that Timo temporarily lost many basic cognitive abilities. He could no longer read or count and struggled to remember even familiar names, except for those of his closest family members. For the next two years, Timo underwent rehabilitation and cognitive therapy to regain essential skills. 

"The brain is remarkable," he says. "Like a muscle, it can be trained. Slowly, I regained some of my abilities." 

Returning to his previous career was no longer possible, but Timo remains positive. He focusses on what he has gained rather than what he had lost.

"I am very blessed to be alive," he says. "Many friends I've met through the patient community are no longer here. My life today is different, but in many ways, it is also better because I spend more time with my family." 

Confidence Through Technology

For almost 14 years, Timo's BIOTRONIK pacemaker quietly accompanied him through everyday life. When the battery eventually approached the end of its service life, replacement surgery brought understandable concerns.

"I was afraid of infections and of my heart stopping during the procedure," he says. "But the clinical team was incredibly professional. After half a day at the clinic, I was able to go home."  

Today, his new BIOTRONIK pacemaker Amvia Sky continues to provide reliable support. 

Turning Experience into Advocacy

"Transforming from an exciting life to being at home all the time is hard." For Timo, that challenge became the starting point for a new chapter. Rather than stepping away from public life, he redirected his energy toward helping others facing similar diagnoses. What began as a personal journey evolved into a mission to raise awareness and connect people living with aortic disease. Over the years, he has helped build patient communities connecting thousands of people and has become a passionate advocate for patient education and support. 

Through visits to Germany, including talks at the Charité Berlin and Hannover Medical School, Timo learned how patient self-help groups can provide valuable support and community. Inspired by these experiences, he has worked to promote similar models in Sweden and facilitate exchanges between German and Swedish patients.

His latest passion project explores how artificial intelligence can help organize and connect medical knowledge from patients, clinicians, hospitals, and researchers. Together with his son Oscar, he is working to develop practical ways for healthcare organizations to identify knowledge gaps and improve patient care. 

"I see my role as finding good information and sharing it," he explains. "The more informed patients are, the better they can navigate their journey."