Madam, - On June 1st this year, my young son Conor died from sudden death syndrome (SDS). He was just 16 years old, a beautiful, bright, good-humoured, precious child - my only child. He loved playing rugby and played for his school, De La Salle College in Churchtown, and his club, DLSP in Kilternan. He was on the first day of his summer holidays and was to have his picture taken that day with the school rugby team. However, after he spoke to me briefly that morning I heard a choking noise coming from his bedroom. I discovered my son unconscious. I rang an ambulance which arrived in 10 minutes and took him to St James's Hospital, five minutes away. But my son could not be saved.
His death has devastated not only myself and his father - our lives are shattered - but the community in which we live here in Rialto, and his school and many friends in Churchtown. Our grief and shock is compounded by the suddenness of his death and by how little we understood about SDS. My son was fit and healthy and showed no symptoms of a heart problem. Since his death I have received information from CRY, a charity which was set up to raise awareness of SDS. Before my son died I only heard of this in connection with prominent footballers. I now realise it can happen to anyone.
Research in the UK, where up to eight people a week die of SDS, shows that it is responsible for more deaths than meningitis. Yet there is no campaign to raise awareness of the dangers. Some people may show symptoms such as dizziness, fainting or blackouts. Young people, parents and GPs may not take these seriously, yet they can be a sign of a fatal heart condition. I am angry because research from other countries show that screening of young people can detect people at risk. A simple ECG may have saved my son's life.
A task force is due to report to Minister for Health Mary Harney at the end of the summer, with recommendations on the prevention of sudden cardiac death. As one mother who has lost a child I intend putting pressure on my local TDs to raise this matter in the Dáil and urge the Minister to do more about it. It is too late for us - we have already lost our beautiful son; but I hope that in the future other lives can be saved. - Yours, etc,
MONICA MARTIN,
Fatima Mansions,
Rialto,
Dublin 8.