Stockport mum who lost her son to "sudden cardiac death" urges all parents to get their children screened
21-year old Michael Brennan died just days before his graduation.
Last updated 25th Jul 2018
A mum-of-six from Stockport who lost her 21-year-old son to 'sudden cardiac death' is urging all parents across the country to get their children tested.
Helen Brennan is marking 4 years since the sudden death of her son, Michael by reaching out to schools, families and young people across the North West with the simple message; “test your heart”.
Mum of 6, Helen, has teamed up with the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) and pledged to talk openly about her own, tragic experience, in order to raise awareness of the screening programme (www.testmyheart.org.uk) that can identity hidden heart conditions in apparently fit and healthy young people.
Michael was just 21 when he died in his sleep - days before his much-anticipated Graduation from Manchester Metropolitan University.
His family, friends and the entire Irish community in Manchester were left devastated by his death – which was later found to have been caused by a condition known as Brugada syndrome. Helen vowed to do something to help prevent other families going through the same catastrophic grief as they did - and a staggering £18,000 has been raised so far, with special thanks to members of the St Kentigern’s Irish Club and also O’Shea’s Pub.
Brugada syndrome causes a disruption to the heart’s normal rhythm. Most people have no symptoms at all, although some (including Michael) may experience some unexplained symptoms such blackouts or palpitations. Tragically, often the first sign of Brugada syndrome in a family is the sudden death of a young person.
Official figures, first published by CRY, show that every week in the UK around 12 young people (age 35 and under) die suddenly from a previously undiagnosed heart condition.
Helen says; “Michael’s death was a terrible, terrible shock that left our family shattered. But, we pulled together, united in our grief and determination to do something positive in Michael’s memory.
“We got in touch with CRY and set up a Memorial Fund, which will allow us to fund specialist screening for young people across the North West.
“We’ll never know how things might have been different if Michael had been screened – I can’t allow myself to think that way. But I am always so shocked and scared when I come across young people and their families who still aren’t aware of CRY or the fact that at least 12 young people die every week in the UK from a previously undiagnosed heart condition.
“I therefore want to mark the anniversary – and gosh, how I hate that word – of Michael’s passing by making sure everyone across the North West knows about CRY.”
The first screening event in Michaels’ memory will take place next June – almost 5 years after his sudden death – but his family hope it be the start of many.
An ECG (electrocardiogram) test – the internationally recognised, gold-standard test, that underpins CRY’s screening programme - is a simple way to identify the vast majority of abnormalities that can cause sudden deaths in young people. The test is quick, non-invasive and, if necessary, a further echocardiogram (ultrasound scan of the heart) can be taken on the same day to provide further clarity or reassurance.
Just last year, CRY announced another screening milestone for the charity, when the 10,000th person in the North West was tested (at an event funded by a family in Altrincham). But, as Chief Executive of CRY, Dr Steven Cox, explains, there’s always more to be done;
“The death of a young person is deeply traumatic for any family. It is therefore essential that anyone with a potentially fatal heart condition knows about it. Without this knowledge and, if necessary, appropriate treatment, they could be putting their lives at risk as in 80% of cases there are no signs or symptoms.
“We began screening young people over 20 years ago and I am so proud that we are now testing around 27,000 young people annually. Across the UK, we have carried out over 165,000 cardiac screens and we are currently in a position where we cannot meet demand. We will therefore continue to campaign for greater support and endorsement from the Government.
He adds; “But, in the meantime, I want to thank Helen and all of CRY’s families and supporters across the North West who have helped us achieve incredible things across the region. This is where we started screening and we want to do all we can to highlight that screening is the most effective way we have of saving young lives from these heart conditions which can have such a devastating impact if left undiagnosed.”
CRY’s hugely subsidised screening programme is overseen by Professor Sanjay Sharma, Professor of Inherited Cardiovascular Disease and Sports Cardiology at St George’s Hospital London and the Medical Director of the Virgin London Marathon -and feeds directly into a world-leading research programme, also under Professor Sharma’s supervision.
Anyone wishing to book into a free, CRY screening local to them, can do so in 3clicks @ www.testmyheart.org.uk