Heinz Hoenig’s wife Annika about his operation
“The entire aorta must be replaced”
Heinz Hoenig and his wife Annika have been married since 2019.
© imago images/Photopress Müller
Annika Kärsten-Hoenig spoke in an interview about the life-threatening procedure her husband was about to undergo.
The concern for actor Heinz Hoenig (72) continues. In an interview with the “Bild” newspaper, his wife Annika Kärsten-Hoenig (39) spoke about the exact details of the life-saving heart operation that the “Das Boot” star is currently waiting for in the hospital.
Inflammation in the body
The problem with Hoenig’s critical condition, who is in an artificial coma in a Berlin clinic, is that it does not directly affect the heart, but rather the entire aorta, explains his wife. “The matter is quite complicated, even for me, and I am a nurse by profession. Heinz has an inflammation in his body that has spread to the entire aorta.” The actor underwent heart surgery in 2012, during which he had a stent inserted. It was damaged by the bacterial inflammation and “blood and fluid leaked out of the stent,” explains Annika Kärsten-Hoenig. “A new stent was placed two days ago as an emergency. But that doesn’t last long. His entire aorta has to be replaced. This is of course associated with a high risk.” Such an operation could last “between eight and ten hours” and is life-threatening.
Heinz Hoenig was actually admitted to a hospital in the Harz Mountains because of a gastrointestinal infection. After discharge, he returned to the clinic because of abdominal pain. There the problem with the aorta was identified. While a solution was sought, the actor had to be put into an artificial coma. “In the intensive care unit they explained to me that my husband only had a one percent chance of survival without this operation,” says Kärsten-Hoenig.
When can the operation take place?
Everything is in place for the operation, but it is still unclear when the procedure, which was actually scheduled for last Friday (May 3rd), can be rescheduled. “The doctors can’t say exactly at the moment, it depends on his physical condition,” says Hoenig’s wife. “Whether he’s stable enough and his values are right. These fluctuate from day to day. It’s all like a roller coaster ride.”
She is very grateful to the doctors and nurses at the clinic who are doing everything in their power for her husband. “I come from the industry myself and have experienced completely different things. But here for the first time I have the feeling that everything is really being done for him, regardless of his insured situation.”
Regarding the reports that the actor does not have health insurance, his wife explains: “Heinz has certainly earned a lot of money in his great career. But an artist has to use these fees to finance everything, including the insurance. But if the orders don’t come through, and at some point “The insurance costs more per month than the small pension that Heinz gets?” At some point he was no longer able to pay the monthly premiums and was dropped from the insurance. She has already submitted a new membership application for health insurance, but this is “now pending,” says Annika Kärsten-Hoenig. When asked whether the operation costs would amount to 100,000 euros, the 39-year-old replied: “Yes, if it’s enough. Rather more.”
“Heinz is fighting for survival,” explains his wife. “Literally. I know that my Heinzi is incredibly strong. But now he is fighting the fight of his life. Especially for our little sons. But also for me and for his older children.” Heinz Hoenig, who has two children from his first marriage, and his wife Annika Kärsten-Hoenig have two sons together. The couple has been married since 2019.