Abi

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Living with right ventricle outflow tract ventricular tachycardia (RVOT-VT) My condition came to light at the end of 2008 when I was 34. I’d been to the doctors to discuss these strange palpitations and dizzy spells I’d been experiencing, but was sent away and told it was due to “stress”. This seems to be the […]

Afternoon Tea by Sinead Watts

In 2014 my brother suffered a cardiac arrest. He was 21 at the time. Luckily he was in the car with my dad who rushed him to the hospital and they were able to resuscitate him (twice). Following a lot of tests it was discovered that he had Brugada Syndrome. As with most Brugada diagnosis, […]

Alessandro Miccoli

Alessandro Miccoli wrote his story to be included in the myheart booklet which was launched in November, 2013. It wasn’t until the end of 2012 that a journalist first introduced me to the charity CRY. I quickly became aware of the amazing work they do in helping promote awareness of heart conditions in the young. […]

Alex Archer-Todde

Myocarditis At the end of March and the beginning of April 2007 I almost died. A lot of people were asking me about this at the time of writing, so if you want to know or just want a read, then here it is. I’ve put this in writing because it’s a morbid thing to […]

Andy Perry

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Living with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy My name is Andy. I’m now 38 and at the tender age of 7 after dental treatment, I was ill and taken to the local hospital. After several tests they diagnosed me with a heart murmur. Several years later, attending senior school aged 11, I was taken ill doing sports. My […]

Antony Eames

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Tony Eames wrote his story to be included in the myheart booklet which was launched in November, 2013. I had my first episode of fainting at 4 years old. From then on I passed out regularly. Sometimes I passed out several times a day. During this time I was not allowed to do any school […]

Barry Hooton

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Living with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and an undiagnosed condition This story comes from two people – me, Anna (aged 17), a.k.a. “the girlfriend” and Barry (aged 23), a.k.a. “the mystery.” Its a long story, but perhaps may give hope to those who are also undiagnosed just like Barry. This story begins on June […]

Bradley Farrow

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Living with Brugada I did not realise that anything was wrong with me. Occasionally I would notice that my heart seemed to be going fast like it does when you’ve just been running, but I would not have been running. I didn’t think anything of it as it didn’t bother me and at 15 why […]

Brother Kevin Leahy

Sudden cardiac arrest resulting from amyloidosis I am a Catholic seminarian studying to be a Roman Catholic Priest. At the moment of the cardiac arrest, I was studying in Rome where one of our seminaries is located. On June 1 2008 on a hot summer afternoon I was jogging towards our soccer field to play. […]

Brugada and me by Laurie Ketley

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The 9th December 2016 isn’t a key date for me. On that day, I was with my Mum, Dad and younger Sister, who were finishing up from undergoing their Flecanide Challenges…which all fortunately came back clear, which was a huge relief. At 18:30 I received a phone call from my Cardiologist, who went on to […]

Catherine McGough

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Living with endocardial fibroelastosis My name is Catherine and I thought I would tell my story so that maybe it will give others a bit of hope. I am now 24 yrs old. When I was 7 weeks old back in December 1979, I was rushed into the Leeds General Infirmary having heart failure. After […]

Chris Currie

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Living with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and an undiagnosed condition Watch myheart member Chris Currie go through test and speak with Professor Sharma about having an ICD and undiagnosed condition below.

Chris Currie

Chris Currie wrote his story to be included in the myheart booklet which was launched in November, 2013. I was 24 and having the time of my life travelling around the world with two friends. We had made it to Bangkok when we found ourselves in a bar and I literally keeled over. I am […]

Chris Smith

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Living with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome I underwent a catheter ablation procedure in November 2009 after being diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome in May 2009 following a CRY screening at Myerscough College in March 2009. I was a fit and healthy swimmer in my final year at school, I trained at my club 5 times a week and […]

Claire Herridge

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Living with left ventricular wall abnormality A year and a half ago, when I was 34, I was out running when I experienced heart palpitations, chest pain and shortness of breath. I was taken by ambulance to Southampton General Hospital. This was a shock to me as I am a PE teacher and have always […]

Dan Reeves

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Living with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy December 3rd 2010 started out as any other normal day (although, when I look back now it’s as if the day was already planned out). School was closed as the weather had been bad all week and buses couldn’t get through. I had been at work that morning but as the […]

Danielle Cummings

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Living with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy I was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as a baby. My dad and the majority of his family suffered from the disease. It was my parents’ decision for me to undergo genetic testing, which came back positive for having the gene but not the disease. While growing up I had biannual checkups […]

David Hillson

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Living with suspected arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) In February 2008 I was out running with a friend. It was bitterly cold and I had not run over the Christmas period so this run was my attempt to ‘get back into it’! I had always been fairly healthy, played football all my life (and rugby […]

Debra Whiting

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Living with right ventricle outflow tract tachycardia (RVOT-T) I was always really sporty when I was younger. I used to be in the netball team at school and represented my county at swimming and horse riding. I did occasionally used to get a flutter in my heart after I had really exerted myself but I […]

Ellie Brogan

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Living with Wolff Parkinson White syndrome My name is Ellie Brogan, I am 15 years old and suffer from Wolff Parkinson White syndrome (WPW). I really want to raise money for your charity and thought I would start by telling you my story and the reason why I want to raise money. When I was 7 years old, […]

Emma Jackson

Emma Jackson wrote her story to be included in the myheart booklet which was launched in November, 2013. I never liked sports when I was younger and was never any good. I remember having strange missed beats, tiredness and slight dizziness but thought this was normal. It was pure chance that a doctor noticed a […]

Emmerson Hird

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On Wednesday 6th June 2012 my 17 year old nephew Emmerson Hird survived a cardiac arrest. Emmerson had been playing upstairs on his X-box with his girlfriend Micha. As he went to get up he fell down onto her. At first she thought he was messing about but quickly realised something was wrong and shouted […]

Francesca Maretic

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Living with Wolff Parkinson White syndrome My name is Fran and I’m an average girl except for the fact that at the moment I have Wolff Parkinson White syndrome (WPW). WPW means I have an extra pathway in my heart and sometimes my heart will beat really fast because of this. The first time I […]

Fraser Thomas

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Living with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy I am one of the few lucky parents as my son, Fraser, survived a full cardiac arrest while playing football last year. He had no previous symptoms or illness and was saved thanks to two medical students who happened to be playing football that day and also a mobile defibrillator that […]

Gary McElkerney

Living with my condition supraventricular tachycardia, struggling with my head Limerick Vikings American Football Team were always going to be a tough team to play and making the 5 hour coach journey to Limerick University was always going to be a disadvantage. It was the 25th July 2009. I got off the coach after a […]

George Ranger

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Living with supraventricular tachycardia I am writing to thank you so much for your kind help and support that you gave to me at the end of last year when I telephoned CRY extremely worried about my son George. If you remember, George is at Lord Wandsworth College and I was having terrible trouble getting […]

Having a Heart Condition by Guy Heywood

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Hey myheart members! I decided to write a piece about having a ‘Heart Condition’ which will hopefully help to prove that there’s nothing stopping you from feeling good ? What does it mean to have a heart condition? Does it mean I am unable to live life how I want? In a word, no. Does […]

Hayley Brown

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Living with long QT syndrome I was 19 years old and had just failed my second driving test when my first and only attack happened. I ran through the garden and into the house where my mum was waiting nervously. I told her that I had failed and then went on to tell her I […]

I thought I had a flu but then I suffered a cardiac arrest! by Jake Fordham

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On Tuesday the 21st of February I was sent home from work a little early as I was feeling unwell. My colleague had only recently returned to work after having the flu so I assumed I was coming down with something similar. My manager asked me to call in the next day if I was […]

Ian Tunnell

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Living with Wolff Parkinson White syndrome I would like to recount the circumstances surrounding my son’s experience of Wolff Parkinson White syndrome (WPW) in the hope that other young people, particularly students, will take heed and (a) register with a GP, and (b) go to see them when they’re not well. We had taken Ian […]

Jack Wright

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Living with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Jack, our six year old son – usually referred to as Jack Wright – left for school as usual on the morning of Tuesday 20th June 2006. He was arguing with his eleven year old sister Abigail and Mum Tracey on the way out of the front door, with his hair […]

James Bailey

James Bailey wrote his story to be included in the myheart booklet which was launched in November, 2013. I was pumped up for the game. The adrenaline was rushing through my body. I couldn’t wait for kick-off but as soon as the whistle blew, my body reacted in a way it had never done before. […]

Jenny Justice

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Living with Wolff Parkinson White syndrome I had Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW) when I was a child. I remember waking up because my heart would start beating very rapidly and for about 2 or 3 years my parents thought I was exaggerating when I told them my heart was beating fast. As I grew into a […]

Jessica Goddard

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Living with long QT syndrome Jessica Jane Goddard was born on the 27th July 2007. She was 3 years old when in May 2010 we received a phone call that would change her life forever… My name is Rebekah Goddard and I am Jessica’s mother. I was diagnosed with long QT syndrome in July 2001 at […]

Jonny Goode

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Living with long QT syndrome I love Sport! Any kind of sport and ever since I remember I have spent most of my spare time either hitting a ball, pedalling a bike or running around somewhere. It came as a great shock to me when I was diagnosed with long QT syndrome at the age […]

Joseph Tanner

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Living with Brugada syndrome (type 3) Sunday 16th March 2008, I had a cardiac arrest and died for 7 minutes. I collapsed at the finishing line of the Hastings half marathon. I had no clue that I had an undiagnosed heart condition, I always considered myself a healthy person. Before this fateful day, I would […]

Julia Hubbard

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Living with right ventricular outflow tract ventricular tachycardia (RVOT-VT) I have represented Great Britain in Bobsleigh since 2006 and In October 2007 I crashed in a race and sustained fractured vertebrae and tore all the ligaments in my thoracic spine. I was out of the sport for the rest of the season while I recovered […]

Julie Mills

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Viral myocarditis My story began in August 1998 when, in my third year of a four year teacher training degree, I felt unwell and left my holiday job early. I was in the middle of my shift and I had a pain in my chest and a headache and I thought I just had a […]

Louise Bees

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Living with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome Hi, I got diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW) after nearly dying giving birth to my son. I had suffered with palpitations for years, but nothing was done about it. Then, whilst I was pregnant, the attacks became more frequent and when I told my doctor I was given a 24-hour heart monitor […]

Louise Dee

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Living with long QT syndrome Hi, my name is Louise. It all started in 1990 when I was 8 yrs old. I woke up hearing an alarm clock and realised it was my mother’s for work, so I got out of bed and went to turn the alarm off. When I went into her bedroom […]

Lucy Challis

Lucy Challis wrote her story to be included in the myheart booklet which was launched in November, 2013. On Sunday 29th January 2006, my older brother Stuart, age 25, collapsed and died playing football. I was 23 and my other brother was 27. Stuart was the fittest of the three of us. He had no […]

Lucy Patey

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Living With long QT syndrome I have always been a fit and active person, participating in many sporting activities – two of which were hockey and horse riding, family passions that I inherited. During my teenage years I competed at top level both on horseback and on the hockey field. Looking back, I was given […]

Lyndsay Morton

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Living with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome When I was 19 I was woken by a paramedic at 3am one morning. The paramedic had been called by my partner because I had stopped breathing and started fitting in my sleep. Subsequently I was told that I was “stressed and its nothing to worry about”! I kept getting severe […]

Mallory Brand

Mallory Brand wrote her story to be included in the myheart booklet which was launched in November, 2013. I discovered I had Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome by chance. I manage events and exhibitions for a marketing agency in London. In July 2012, I was flying to Boston when I felt unwell during the flight, collapsed and […]

My Heart Story By Rich Morris

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Hi Everyone, It has taken me a long time to find somewhere to share stories, thoughts and experiences with others in a similar position. And it feels good! I have been active throughout my life, playing every sport accessible to me. My first experience of any cardiac issues was at around age 18, I think […]

Paul Cooper

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Living with atrial fibrillation My story began 19 years ago – I am 39 now. I was out with some mates one night, when I felt a funny ‘butterfly’ feeling in my chest – it felt like my heart was racing. That night I went to the hospital with my mate and they did an ECG. My heart […]

Paul Cowling-DCM

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Before I share my experiences and try to give some idea of how I try to cope with what has happened, one thing should be made very clear: having a heart condition sucks. I mean, it really sucks. It’s a massive thing to have to comprehend; that the core element of us, the heart, doesn’t […]

Paula Beck

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Living with Brugada syndrome Watch myheart member Paula Beck speak with Professor Sharma about having Brugada syndrome below.

Paula Beck

Paula Beck (Simmonds) wrote her story to be included in the myheart booklet which was launched in November, 2013. I was diagnosed with Brugada syndrome on 8th August 2011 at St George’s Hospital. I am a mum of two, one of four siblings and was only 30 when diagnosed. Our family underwent tests after my […]

Rachael Marchant

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Living with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and an undiagnosed condition At the age of 22 I noticed my heart seemed to ‘jump’ around and beat in an unusual way. I contacted my GP on a particularly bad day and was referred to a cardiologist. I spent 5 years under the cardiologists care and received […]

Rebekah Goddard

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Living with long QT syndrome Even at the age of nine the signs were there, but no one realised what they meant. I recall going home from school near to tears as I had, had a ‘panic attack’ in the school assembly hall…. yet again. My heart pounded and I felt sick as well as […]

Rob Jackson

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Living with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) I am a 31 year old Sergeant in the Army Air Corps and until recently was a Lynx Helicopter pilot and aircraft commander operating in Northern Ireland. I joined the Army at 18 and have spent the past 12 years living an active, healthy lifestyle as a soldier. […]

Russell Goodman

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Living with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and an undiagnosed condition A healthy way to start the weekend, get up Saturday morning and go for a run. This was something my fiancée Charlotte and I enjoy regularly, sick this one however was very different. After being out for just over an hour running the streets […]

Sarah Bond

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Living with Brugada syndrome I’m Sarah. In January 2012 I was diagnosed with a heart condition known as Brugada syndrome, something that I have had since birth yet was completely unaware of – living like any other healthy 31 year old woman; going to the gym, work and starting off newly married life with my […]

Scott Fleming

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Living with Wolff Parkinson White syndrome I was 27 when I collapsed whilst playing Sunday league football. Little did I know I had been living my life with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW). I survived this collapse and resulting coma and awoke to find the doctors still never knew what was wrong with me. After a few […]

Sian Donnelly

Sian Donnelly wrote her story to be included in the myheart booklet which was launched in November, 2013. Whilst on a family holiday in 2004, my brother Adam died suddenly whilst playing volleyball at our hotel. After two post-mortems we were told that he had died from SADS (sudden adult death syndrome). At the time, we […]

Stacy

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Living with Wolff Parkinson White syndrome Hi, my name is Stacy and I am 19 years old. I was a very healthy child and was always very active and played netball every week. I remember having moments throughout my childhood where I would feel very odd and feel lightheaded and spaced out but we thought […]

Steve Jackson

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Having a myxoma diagnosed A married father with two young children, recently promoted to Detective Inspector in The City of London Police and having been appointed onto the City Security Magazine editorial committee, life was going pretty well for Steve Jackson. In the summer of 2008 my world was turned upside down. I started to […]

Super Ventricular Tachycardia (SVT) by Samantha McLaren

I have been suffering from SVT attacks since March 2010 when I suddenly collapsed at work.  I was taken to A&E for tests, my heart rate was very high reaching over 200BPM, I remember being very scared as I was never in hospital and was always fit and healthy.  They gave me a 6mg jag […]

This is a brief outline of how I came to know CRY, join myheart, and join MedicAlert

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Shortly after university finals in 2010, I had a second ajmaline challenge (drug assisted ECG) in London under Professor Sharma’s team, with the unexpected result that I was positive for Brugada syndrome – unexpected because 18 months previously I’d received the all clear at a local hospital. However unequivocally grateful and relieved I’d been with the negative result, the registrar’s approach and manner […]

Tom James MBE

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Living with atrial fibrillation Watch CRY Patron Tom James MBE talk with Professor Sharma about his experience of finding out and living with atrial fibrillation below. Tom James MBE is featured in CRY’s myheart booklet, which also includes 10 stories from young men and women who have written about their experience of suddenly being diagnosed with a […]

Tracey Duncan

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Living with right ventricular outflow tract ventricular tachycardia (RVOT-VT) 2002 was the best season of my career in terms of development; I represented England at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, and also Great Britain at the European Championships in Munich, in the 400 metre Hurdles. So, 2 years later I felt ready to qualify for […]

Zenia Selby- earlier diagnosed with WPW

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I was out on a 5k run when suddenly my heart started beating several times faster than it should have been. I stopped, sat down, breathed deeply, but nothing would stop it. I was in the middle of a wood when it happened, exactly halfway through the run and so about 2.5k away from home. After […]