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 As a mother
who has lost her son, I think children should be screened before they
leave school, but the Government don't want to know because it costs
too much - Maralyn Bowen.
The death of an apparently fit 19 year-old from a hidden heart
condition has prompted a Teeside screening session.
Ian Bowen died suddenly from the very rare heart condition, Wolffe-Parkinson-White
Syndrome.
Caused by an extra electrical connection within the heart, it is
one of 11 conditions under the Sudden Death Syndrome umbrella.
But despite its rarity, it could have been detected by an
electrocardiograph - ECG - and successfully treated.
Now, in a bid to prevent someone else suffering the personal
heartache they went through, Ian's parents, Maralyn and Kenny, have
arranged a cardiac screening programme in Redcar. And they say even if
it puts on e person's mind at rest, it will be worth doing.
Maralyn, of Buckingham Road, Redcar, said: 'We don't want to alarm
anyone, but this is a chance our son never got. As a mother who has
lost her son, I think children should be screened before they leave
school, but the Government doesn't want to know because it costs too
much.'
Since Ian's death in 1996, Maralyn and Kenny have raised £17,000 in
his memory. Much of the cash has gone to the CRY charity - Cardiac
Risk in the Young - which raises awareness and promotes research into
Sudden Death Syndrome affecting young people.
The Bowens have even bought their own ECG machine and, with help
from CRY and St. George's Hospital Medical School in London, soon hope
to make it available locally on a regular basis.
Meanwhile, a CRY mobile cardiac screening unit for 14-35 year-olds
will be at the United Reformed Church, Station Road, Redcar, on
Saturday October 28 from 9.30am-6pm, and October 29, from
9.30am-12.30pm.
The weekend has const £3,000, but Maralyn said: 'We felt we wanted
to give something back to the community.'
CRY stress that four young people a week die in the UK from cardiac
abnormalities - most of which are preventable.
Maralyn and Kenny Bowen are
part of the CRY Talking point team.
By Dave Robson With
Permission from the Evening Gazette
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