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.gif) On
the Bank Holiday Monday we were planning to visit Blenheim Palace, but before
going in I rang Andrew to remind him of a dental appointment he had the
following day. His mobile phone was answered by Preston CID who asked me to ring
my sister. Immediately I knew something was wrong.
Dave rang my sister who said
she’d been trying to get in touch with us all night, as Andrew had collapsed and
died whilst out with his friends the previous evening. You can imagine what a
devastating shock this was – we didn’t really take in what had actually happened
but knew we had to get back to Preston as soon as possible and to contact
Andrew’s fiancée who was in Australia with her family. The journey home took
about three hours and neither of us spoke all the way.
The police and coroner’s officer
were very sympathetic and supportive to our situation and kept us informed.
Initially the reason for Andrew’s death was unknown. Andrew’s father had died
when Andrew was only three years old from a brain tumour and at first it was
thought that Andrew may have had a brain haemorrhage. The post-mortem, however,
revealed that unknown to us Andrew had suffered two heart attacks in the two to
three weeks before he died and that his left ventricle was enlarged.
Andrew and his fiancée Gemma
were looking forward to getting married in November 2004 and had been working
very hard on their future home. He was very excited about their forthcoming
marriage and had everything to live for. Health wise, everything seemed to be
fine and Andrew rarely had cause to visit the doctor, however, two to three
weeks before his death he complained of having indigestion. He said that the
discomfort felt like an air lock and had occurred after eating but was eased on
taking an antacid medication. This apparently may have been his first heart
attack.
On the day he died, Andrew had
spent the day with friends at their home. He’d had lunch with them but had
refused a second helping of cake. He told them he had a touch of indigestion!
Less than 12 hours later Andrew’s heart went into arrhythmia causing his sudden
death.
We were left feeling bewildered
and asking many questions. A short time after I read an article in a woman’s
magazine that told another story of a sudden adult death and highlighted the
work of CRY. I immediately sent for CRY’s literature and was amazed by how many
other families had been affected by SADs. Dave and I sat into the early hours
reading other people’s stories and about the causes of SADs.
My first instinct (being driven)
was to make other people aware of SADs, simply because if I’d been aware I would
have insisted that Andrew had gone to the doctors and been tested as soon as he
had complained of repeated ‘indigestion’.
My goal was, and still is, to
raise awareness and to hold screening events in the area for other young people.
I believe if Andrew had been given the chance to be screened then his death may
have been prevented. Support in our fundraising events has been tremendous and
our first screening event is on 11th February.
I am still finding it hard
coming to terms with Andrew’s death, but I find the following quotation
inspirational:
“God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and
the wisdom to know the difference”. Reinhold Niebuhr
When Alison asked me to be the
North West representative I was delighted to accept. Maybe I can make some
contribution to the excellent work CRY is doing.
If you would like to contact one of our
Representatives or a Bereavement Supporter please call the CRY office at 01737 363222 or e-mail cry@c-r-y.org.uk
and we will put you in touch with someone who may be able to help
you.
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