Editor’s Note: Jennifer Lynn Balma shares with us the tragic story of her daughter Celicia (affectionately known as Princess George), who died at age three of sudden cardiac arrest, most likely brought on by a Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome (SADS). George would have been five this coming Wednesday.
“George passed away on April 7, 2009 from an undiagnosed heart condition. She had no right ventricular coronary artery.
I’m still not sure her affliction was one of the Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes (SADS), an umbrella term for a few different heart conditions including Long QT Syndrome, ARVD, and Short QT Syndrome.
My son has now been diagnosed with a heart condition as well, as we find these conditions are mostly genetic. My son, who is seven, has an irregular rapid heartbeat. He is scheduled to have a electrophysiology study with radio frequency ablation. This procedure is being done to cauterize an extra nerve he has, which sends electrical charges to his heart. After his procedure, he is expected to have a full recovery with no limitations and average life expectancy.
The connection between SADS and sudden cardiac arrest is that someone with a SADS-related disease may have a higher incidence of sudden cardiac arrest. SADS heart defects usually go unnoticed. There are few signs, but some symptoms can include fainting, seizures, and shortness of breath. Those who do experience symptoms are usually misdiagnosed as there is little known about these heart defects, especially for little children.
My daughter, George, never had a symptom. She was an active, bubbly little princess who tried with all her might to keep up with her four older siblings. One day while having a snack with her brother in the kitchen, George laid down. I was holding her talking to 911. While in my arms my precious little angel took her last breath. When the paramedics arrived she was not breathing, had no heart beat.
The doctor in the ER said she suffered a sudden cardiac death. We didn’t find out about her condition until the autopsy report. The coroner suggested we have all of our children tested as her condition could have been genetic. That’s how we learned about our son. The extra electric charges he has could cause his heart to go into cardiac arrest.
Since losing my daughter I have taken it upon myself to try to help educate others on SADS conditions and the foundation itself (www.SADS.org). Simple testing can uncover this silent killer. Please take a few minutes to check out the web site yourself. The statistics are shocking. In the United States, SADS is three times more common (and has a higher mortality rate) than childhood Leukemia.
I would be honored to have you as a member or just knowing my article helped make you aware. Knowledge is power and, although I wasn’t able to save my Princess, together we can save someone else’s angel.”
Jennifer shares a photo album of her daughter on our Facebook page. Jennifer, thank you for sharing your story with us.
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Mon, Jan 3, 2011 |
AEDs