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A TERRIFIED mum who fears her
children could die from a fatal heart defect could has been made to wait more than
two months for an ECG scan.
Ruby Adams contacted Worcester Royal
Infirmary four weeks ago after the boys' father, Ellis Curran, died suddenly of
an undiagnosed, enlarged heart muscle.
But hospital chiefs told her she
would have to wait a further four weeks for an appointment to test her three and
five-year-olds for the hereditary condition.
'I was so upset when I got the
letter I was almost hysterical,' said Ms Adams, who has lost more than a stone
in weight since her 28-year-old fiancée's inquest.
'Between now and when they get an
appointment, there's nothing to say I won't lose one of my children,' the
37-year-old said.
The condition, known as Hypertrophic
Cardiomyopathy, is an enlarged or swollen heart muscle and is a major cause of
unexpected cardiac death in the young.
Known as Sudden Death Syndrome, it
claims the lives of an estimated four young people in Britain every week.
'As soon as they're clear, they're
fine,' said Ms Adams, of Sycamore Road, Tunnel Hill.
'But it's the waiting that's so
awful.'
'The four weeks since the inquest
have been absolutely hell. I just want to get this out the way so I can
move on.'
Mr Curran died in his fiancée's
arms on Sunday, January 28, as the couple lay in bed. He had not been feeling
unwell and showed no symptoms to suggest otherwise.
At his inquest, the coroner recorded
a verdict of death by natural causes.
But Joy Powell, who set up the
Worcester branch of Cardiac Risk in the Young, CRY, after her best friend's 20
year-old son died, said there was 'nothing natural' about young people dropping
dead from heart attacks.
'It only takes three minutes to save
a life,' she said.
CRY campaigns for ECG testing for
all youngsters. At the moment it is only given to those whose families have a
history of the condition.
Janet-Marie Clark, spokeswoman for
the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said health bosses sympathised with
Ms Adams.
'We suggest that she contact the
communications officer at the trust in order to take the matter forward.'
With permission from the Evening
News
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