newspaper article on genetic heart conditions

[ben's mom]

I am not sure where to post this. My family and I are mentioned near the end of this article which deals with genetic heart conidtions.
http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1052547&auth=Ann%20Lukits

[lacheim]

What a great article. It's just always sad that it takes the death of a young person to bring this issue to the attention of the public. Thank you for sharing.

Kathy

[Reenie]

That's a terrific article. Thank you for sharing it with us. I hope even one person recognizes problems within their own family and gets care. Stories like this help save lives.

[Brownie]

Hi, everyone,

The unidentified 10-year-old boy in the story was my younger son, Nathan. He collapsed and died at school on April 18 while playing with his friends at recess. His death came 8 days before Taylor Allen's. Both are tragic losses.

Abby

[Reenie]

I'm really sorry to hear that, Abby. I didn't know you had lost your son. Don't you have a daughter with HCM?

[Brownie]

Reenie,

I hadn't posted about Nathan's death prior to this morning, although I had informed a couple of HCMA members, so you couldn't have known.

You are right about my daughter, though. My older daughter & husband had also been given a positive diagnosis on echo. We have more recently learned via genetic testing that I also have HCM, as do our other children who were previously cleared by echo. Our youngest will be getting an ICD in about a month's time.


Abby

[Pam Alexson]

I am so sorry to read this and this is very tragic to hear indeed. The article directly impacts so many in the HCM community as the connections are revealed.

Abby, I am so very sorry for your loss and also for so much HCM in your family. Just tragic!
Let us continue to hear how you are all doing and how your son's implant goes.

Sara, thank you for sharing this article with us. It was very well done. Ben is one of the lucky ones although no one is lucky to have HCM. May he continue to always do well.

Pam

[Reenie]

Wow, Abby. You've been hit so hard in your family. My thoughts and prayers are with you. I hope your younger daughter's ICD implantation goes smoothly.

[Midge Rollins]

Abby, thanks for sharing and my thoughts are with you as you deal with all of this. sara thanks for sharing.

[Brownie]

Thank you for you kind thoughts everyone. I hadn't intended to hijack this thread (sorry Sara).

Abby